Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Revelation 3:20.
Now, be honest! When you saw that today’s verse is in Revelation, did you conjure up images of strange imagery and visions? Rest easy, as this verse comes in the early part of the book, before all the imagery takes place. Jesus was dictating letters to John to seven churches in Asia Minor. This verse comes in the letter to the church in Laodicea and is one of the harshest of the letters. That church is “lukewarm…neither hot nor cold,” and Jesus says he is about to spit it out of his mouth! Yet, here is this invitation, even to this lukewarm church, in which Jesus offers to come in and to be with them.
I hear this as a personal invitation to every person who reads this verse. Jesus could kick down our doors, the barriers to entry into our hearts. But he does not do that; instead, he stands at the door and knocks. Jesus seeks to be in relationship with us! This is prevenient grace. Jesus assures us that if we open the door to him, he will come in and we will eat together. In his culture, eating together was the ultimate relationship. Our part in this is simply to open our heart’s door and invite Jesus inside.
Personal Worship Option:
Jesus, sometimes I put up barriers around my heart…barriers of apathy, busyness, and arrogance. Help me to remember that you want to be near me and in my life, so I need to push those barriers aside and open the door wide for you. Amen.
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