I woke up this morning at 03:20 and immediately thought of Revelation 3:20;
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3
The risen Christ speaking to the last of the seven Churches and He wasn’t happy. In verse 19 the Lord says those whom He Loves, He disciplines for their good. Then He gives a wonderful promise to the people of this Church, if they’ll open the door to His knocking, He’ll come and eat with them. We had some people in our home last night and it was good at the end of the evening to talk around a table. Christ wants that close fellowship time with us if we’ll only open the door of our hearts and lives to Him.
Some further 3:20 verses from various New Testament books;
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3
Jesus was under constant pressure, crowds everywhere and even His own family wanted to stop Him. Sometimes even those close to us may not understand God’s calling on our lives.
20 Everyone who does evil HATES THE LIGHT, and will not come into the light for FEAR that their deeds will be EXPOSED. John 3
Jesus explaining to Nicodemus that people fear exposure, they don’t want past their wrongs to be uncovered and yet confession and repentance (bringing things into the light) is often our way to perfect freedom. John’s Gospel deals more with the internal than the others.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3
If we try to keep the Law, we have to keep the whole Law (not just our bits) all the time and it can’t be done.
Peter said so, 10 “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Acts 15:10
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Our God can do much more than we ask or imagine. When we pray we enlist the aid of the King of the Universe and we have direct access through Jesus.
20 But OUR CITIZENSHIP is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3
Perhaps the most important scripture is still the opening one from Revelation 3:20. Jesus the Lord of the Church, His body here on earth (that’s what we’re meant to be), is standing knocking on the door. He wants to come in to our company and have fellowship with us. He was talking to a Church, not unbelievers. Is He still saying the same thing to some of us?
God bless and keep you.