Oh, how I love this verse.
This invitation from Jesus.
Come. Dine. Sit down with me and be my friend.
There are few things in life I relish more than sitting down with a friend or friends and having a meal together. The conversation is so pleasant and the fellowship so real.
I remember as a child, my dad and mom had a constant stream of students over to our house...
for meals, popcorn, games, or just plain fellowship.
Oh, the fun we had.
The smell of popcorn and the sound of laughter would fill the air and Pepsi would flow like wine. (sorry, a little family joke there)
Those memories are priceless and the friends gathered eternal.
I sure had a great childhood.
But this verse is also so heartbreaking.
Jesus is standing at the door knocking.
Not loudly...
Not beating down door the door...
A gentle knock. Just loud enough we know He is there.
And the heartbreaker is this...Jesus was speaking to Christians.
He was writing this to a church. Laodicia.
Jesus.
Writing to a church.
To believers.
Asking to be let in.
Why does Jesus need to standing outside of His own church asking to come in? Even worse, why does He need to be knocking at the door of a believer? I'm afraid the answer is quite obvious. He's not already on the inside. He's waiting to be invited in.
All the stuff we have going on seems like Jesus...
Oh, the heartbreak.
He promises a great time.
Wonderful intimate fellowship.
And memories that will last all eternity.
But alas, ever the gentleman, He knocks.
And waits.
I think we kinda like Jesus out there... on the other side of the door. Maybe we're afraid of what He might say or ask. It's much safer to keep Him at a distance. After all, religion is easier than relationship. Religion is distant. Relationship is close and intimate. It requires trust and honesty. And exposure of the real me.
And Jesus knocks...
I would that all my days be spent in fellowship with Jesus as though we were friends dining at our favorite restaurant.
That is His invitation. I think I'll open the door.
RP
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