Scripture:
Revelation 3:14-22
Sat, 15 January 2022

Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock

Observation:

Why did the Lord Jesus address His hearers with the words of this passage?

Deeper Reflection
VERSE 20 IS SOMETIMES USED FOR GOSPEL INVITATIONS in evangelistic messages. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Based on these words, the preacher would paint a picture of the Lord Jesus standing outside the door of your heart, knocking and waiting for you to let him come in. If you open the door, He will come in to dine with you and, indeed, live in your heart forever. Thus begins the new convert’s new life through faith in Christ.Yet in the original context, the Lord Jesus was addressing the church in Laodicea and His words were directed to believers, not unbelievers. The Laodicean Christians were materially rich, prosperous and self-sufficient, but unaware of their spiritual poverty, blindness and nakedness (v.17). Their useless outward religiosity (“lukewarm,…neither hot nor cold”, v.16) so repulsed the Lord that He wanted to spit them out of His mouth (vv.15-16).42 Why then did Jesus stand at their door and knock to seek entry? First, He loves them. The preceding verse 19 says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Second, Jesus wanted them to experience spiritual restoration through repentance (vv.18-19). Today, the Lord gives His counsel and invitation to us. Are we willing to open the doors of our hearts to Jesus, to accept His loving reproof and discipline, and to repent of any lukewarmness in our discipleship? If so, Jesus will come in and lovingly restore us from the inside out.
42 “The waters of the nearby Lycus River were muddy and undrinkable, and the waters flowing by aqueduct from hot springs 5 miles (8 km) away were lukewarm when they reached Laodicea. Likewise, Jesus found His church’s tepid indifference repugnant. Cold and hot water represents something positive, for cold water refreshes in the heat, and hot water is a tonic when one is chilly.”: ESV Study Bible.
Application:

What is Jesus saying to me about the true state of my heart and how will I respond to Him?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To give the Lord Jesus full access to their hearts to lovingly restore them from the inside out
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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