January 19: Accepting His Love.
HIS PROPOSAL.
"I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."--Revelation 3:20
I heard a touching story, but I don't know its source. A little boy arrived at the pediatrician's office. When the doctor was using the stethoscope on the child's chest, he placed the earpiece in the boy's ears, so that he could listen to the sound of his own heart. Having never heard a heartbeat, the child was startled! Then he asked: "Is that the sound of Jesus knocking on the door of my heart?"
I cherish this endearing and tender picture of Jesus found in Revelation 3:20. He is standing at the door and knocking, desirous to come in. He proposes, to whoever opens the door, the intimacy of a spiritual meal with Him. His offer is particularly touching to me because it is found right after the portrayal of the church in Laodicea, a church that is both lukewarm and self-sufficient (see verses 15-19). Laodicea was one of the wealthiest business centers in the known world, and it was famous for its banking system, black wool industry, and medical school. Therefore, these are used as the background of the counsel to Laodicea: to come to Christ for gold refined by fire, white garments to clothe their nakedness, and eye salve to see (verse 18). The Laodicean church doesn't perceive its own spiritual needs; it believes it is fine as it is. It is neither cold nor hot; it is lukewarm and doesn't realize that it is spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. After a call to repent, Jesus offers Himself. So far the message has been addressed to the corporate church, the church of Laodicea as a whole. But in this verse, it changes to an individual proposal and appeal: "If anyone hears My voice." Even if the group doesn't accept Jesus' offer, the individuals may. Jesus already stands at the door. His initiative preceded our acceptance of Him, yet He doesn't force Himself in. It is the knock and plea of love personified (see Song of Solomon 5:2). He promises to come in and dine in intimacy with anyone who hears His voice and opens the door to Him. The proposed meal is not a hurried one. He yearns to come in! This is the eager plea of the One who gave His life for you and for me!
My Response:_________________________________________________
HIS PROPOSAL.
"I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."--Revelation 3:20
I heard a touching story, but I don't know its source. A little boy arrived at the pediatrician's office. When the doctor was using the stethoscope on the child's chest, he placed the earpiece in the boy's ears, so that he could listen to the sound of his own heart. Having never heard a heartbeat, the child was startled! Then he asked: "Is that the sound of Jesus knocking on the door of my heart?"
I cherish this endearing and tender picture of Jesus found in Revelation 3:20. He is standing at the door and knocking, desirous to come in. He proposes, to whoever opens the door, the intimacy of a spiritual meal with Him. His offer is particularly touching to me because it is found right after the portrayal of the church in Laodicea, a church that is both lukewarm and self-sufficient (see verses 15-19). Laodicea was one of the wealthiest business centers in the known world, and it was famous for its banking system, black wool industry, and medical school. Therefore, these are used as the background of the counsel to Laodicea: to come to Christ for gold refined by fire, white garments to clothe their nakedness, and eye salve to see (verse 18). The Laodicean church doesn't perceive its own spiritual needs; it believes it is fine as it is. It is neither cold nor hot; it is lukewarm and doesn't realize that it is spiritually wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. After a call to repent, Jesus offers Himself. So far the message has been addressed to the corporate church, the church of Laodicea as a whole. But in this verse, it changes to an individual proposal and appeal: "If anyone hears My voice." Even if the group doesn't accept Jesus' offer, the individuals may. Jesus already stands at the door. His initiative preceded our acceptance of Him, yet He doesn't force Himself in. It is the knock and plea of love personified (see Song of Solomon 5:2). He promises to come in and dine in intimacy with anyone who hears His voice and opens the door to Him. The proposed meal is not a hurried one. He yearns to come in! This is the eager plea of the One who gave His life for you and for me!
My Response:_________________________________________________
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