Jesus At The Door - Revelation 3:20

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.

July 30 devotion - Come to The Table

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 that person, and they with me. (NIV)

            Our church recently decided to set its overall theme for the coming year as “Come to The Table.” It’s a great idea and one which all of our people, teams, ministries, and missions can embrace, experience, and express in wonderful, effective ways. We are all looking forward to seeing how each team and ministry work this into their regular tasks and projects. By the end of the year, we hope to have grown in worship, discipleship, fellowship, and faith.

            As I was reading and reflecting on today’s New Testament passage, it struck that the very first invitation of asking someone to come to the table should be given to Christ Himself. In fact, in today’s highlighted verse, Jesus encourages us to do that. He says that if we open the door (of our hearts and spirits), He will come in and eat with us. In other words, Christ will come to the table where we are dining and join us for a meal. It’s a beautiful picture of our Savior which shows us that He is ready, willing, and wanting to be a participant in our lives, a faithful friend in all that we seek to do.

            So, to initiate our theme, we can all invite Jesus to come to the table of our lives, our faith, our church, and our homes. He will be delighted to do this – all we have to do is open the door and enjoy the meal together.

Point to ponder

Where is Jesus in my life? Am I willing to invite Him to come to the table?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come to the table of our lives and join our celebration. Enable us to enjoy Your company, to listen to Your conversation, and to share spiritual food with You. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on any Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. Like Jesus, you’ll be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Communion drawings called “Glasgow Cup.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cup.