August 28th, 20

OPEN THE DOOR - SOMEONE IS KNOCKING

Today’s readings are Ezekiel 4 – 7 and Revelation 3.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

He’s standing outside the door of this lukewarm church of Laodicea.  It seems they’ve closed the door on him.  In this case, it was their success that ushered Jesus out the door.

You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ (Rev 3:17 NLT)

They are rich and have everything they want.  They don’t need a thing. Riches have replaced Jesus.  Who needs a Savior when you have lots and lots of savings?  That kind of deceitful thinking is the danger that can come with wealth. It can blur our vision.  It can blind us from seeing our circumstances for what they truly are.  We may see ourselves as rich, when, all the while, we are actually poorer than we have ever been.  

This passage doesn’t  just apply to churches,  It speaks to individuals like you and me.  We can lose sight of who we really are.  When we usher Jesus out the door of our heart, or our church – we’re not rich,  We’re actually poor, blind, naked and exposed.  The shame that He has come to cover is exposed once again.  But Jesus loves his church, and he loves you and me, so much, that he doesn’t turn on his heels and leave when we usher him outside, and leave him at the door.  John is in awe as he sees this vision of Jesus standing outside the door that has been so arrogantly closed.  John’s amazed to see him still there.  Jesus is knocking, extending an invitation to us, even while behind the closed door. The invitation is to open up and let him in, so that he can come in and sit down and have a meal with us.  He wants to put an end to the spell that our so-called riches have put on us. He wants to open our eyes so that we can see that he never gives up on us, even when we arrogantly and foolishly usher him outside the door.  He invites us to come and know his embrace once again, and rest in him.  He’s outside the door.  We’ve placed him there.  But he’s knocking on our door.  May we have ears to hear it, and welcome back in the Life, that he alone can bring us.

If there are any doors you’ve ushered him out of, heed the knock, and the invitation to come be with him.  Start anew, and experience his life.

You are loved!