Read: Revelation 3:14-20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (v. 20)
If you remember any of the seven churches, you probably remember the one Jesus threatened to spit out of his mouth. “Laodicean” became a synonym for half-hearted Christians. The lukewarm temperature of the church probably referred as much to its spiritual usefulness as its spiritual ardor. You can use both kinds of water—cold for drinking and hot for washing. But lukewarm water is like salt that’s lost its savor; not much good.
Whatever the spiritual problem, a deeper intimacy with Jesus is the solution. He is always ready, standing at the door. My boyhood church had a stained glass window depicting Christ knocking at the heart’s door. The door is overgrown, vines cling to its edges. It looks like it hasn’t been opened in a long time. Significantly, there’s no handle on it; the door can only be opened from the inside.
It’s worth remembering that Jesus doesn’t really need a handle to come in; he’s already got a key. He’s the one “who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens” (Rev. 3:7). But still he says to each of us, “If anyone opens I will come in.” Jesus wants us to want him in our lives. He politely waits for us to invite him in. If we do that, he won’t just eat and run; he’ll come to stay. “If anyone loves me . . . my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). —David Bast
As you pray, invite the Lord to make your heart his permanent home.
About the Author
Rev. Dave Bast retired as the President and Broadcast Minister of Words of Hope in January 2017, after 23 years with the ministry. Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. He is the author of several devotional books. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he has also studied at both the Fuller and Calvin seminaries. Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and four grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
