Devotions - An Open Door - Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 

Benjamin Franklin once wrote; “God helps those who help themselves.” Some people think it comes from the Bible, but that isn’t the case. However, there is some truth behind what Franklin stated, and today’s verse from Revelation confirms this.

You see there’s nothing that we can do to pay for the price of salvation. Jesus had to do that by sacrificing His life for our sins. But we have to respond to that sacrifice and this is where God helps us when we help ourselves to Christ’s salvation.

The picture of this process that is painted for us in Revelation is that of Jesus knocking on the door of someone’s heart. Christ is outside waiting for a response. He can do nothing until the person opens the door of his or her heart to let Him into their life. This is why we hear of some Christians saying or writing that they gave their hearts to Jesus. They mean that they opened up their hearts and minds, spirit and souls to Christ. They heard Him knocking at their door and they allowed Him to enter in.

I believe that the best thing that we can ever do in our lives is to help ourselves respond positively to Christ’s salvation. Without that open and welcoming, humble and sincere response from us, Christ’s salvation is ineffective. Jesus could die on the Cross a million times for us, but unless we turn to Him and accept Him as our Savior, even He cannot do a thing. Therefore, in order for God to eternally help us, we have to help ourselves by opening our lives to Jesus.

If you need help with this spiritual process or have questions, please send me an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, help us to help ourselves by opening the door of salvation. Keep us from discarding Your request to allow You to enter our hearts, bring peace to our minds, and to change our lives forever. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s worship bulletin drawings which has been used by other churches around the world. It’s called “Bread of Life.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3794304982_d88d80bf82_o.jpg

Ben Franklin's Certainties: Death & Taxes...and one other thing

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

On this day in 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote the now famous statement that “there is nothing certain in life but death and taxes.” I guess if he was more of a Christian, he would have written something like: “there is nothing certain in life but death, taxes, and the assurance of salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ.”

The role of the church is to express the message of salvation to every generation on earth. Our daily purpose as Christians is to convey our faith through the things that we say and do. It’s not always easy, and all of us fail from time to time, but if our hearts are truly centered on Christ, then we will show others our faith in attractive and compelling ways.

Each of us has been given the beautiful and precious gift of life to make a difference in the world. Added to that gift is faith itself, which we are meant to share with others, especially those who are near and dear to us. In recent years, all of us have found it tougher to express our faith because of the negative impression that the Church has had on our society. Christians are perceived to be holy whiners who complain about the world, but never do anything effective to change it. We are treated as if we belong to another age, which we have brought upon ourselves because of our indifference to the world. We try to be exclusive, detached and elite, instead of rolling up our sleeves and working with people who are hurting, fearful, and struggling with life.

I think it’s time to re-impact our community with Christ’s message. It’s time for all of us who claim to be Christians to review our lives and ask ourselves these questions: if my salvation through Jesus means everything to me, then what’s stopping me from sharing that joy with others? How can I become an effective witness to Christ amongst the people that I know and love, amongst those that I meet and work with?

If we make time to do this throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, then we will make a difference in the community. And that means someone near and dear to us will begin to realize that there’s more to life than death and taxes: Christ’s grace to us is the greatest gift of all and the most blessed certainty of life for those who are His.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the courage to make the most of the opportunities that You give us, to share and express our faith with other people. Help us to respond to the calls that You make of us this day to help those in need, to support those who are struggling, and to share the good news of salvation to those who have forgotten this certainty in these uncertain times. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.