Revelation 3:20 Listen!
I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I
will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. (NRSV)
Christ’s message to the
church folks in Laodicea (Rev
3:14-22) is not very complimentary. Jesus complains about their lackadaisical
and laid-back attitude to being involved in the work of their congregation.
They had become lukewarm because they took God’s grace for granted, so Jesus expressed
His disappointment with the church. It must have been a hard message to receive
and one that probably offended a number of Laodicean folks at that time. They
wanted to be encouraged for their effort, not rebuked, even if it was only a
meager one.
The good thing about the
passage is that Jesus wasn’t willing to give up on them. In fact, He was ready
to personally get involved in each of their lives. Today’s highlighted verse
describes Christ as standing outside of the door of the church, or even each
individual’s heart, just waiting to be welcomed back into the congregation and
the personal lives of each church member. It’s a beautiful image of how God’s
grace actually works – we are always offered it when we least deserve it.
The good folks in Laodicea
must have heeded Christ’s message because, 1900 years later, the church still
exists there today. It is an example of how the truth about our faith can
actually help re-motivate ourselves, if especially if we are honest about our casual
approach to our personal commitment to Jesus and His Church. In these uncertain
times, we need to grow our faith in order to use our faith to overcome our
fears, anxieties, and worries.
Point to ponder: Have I
distanced myself from God? Am I willing to let Christ back into my life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You
know everything about us and how faithful we actually are. Help us to re-evaluate
our spiritual lives especially during these trying and unusual times. Encourage
us to open our hearts, homes, and churches to Your gracious presence. In Your
Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for
worship at the church or online each Sunday at 11:00 AM. No matter who you are
or where you are, you are very welcome 😊
Today’s image is an old
drawing of John’s called ‘Sunrise Communion.’ If you want to view a larger
version, please click this link: Sunrise.
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