Revelation 3:20 – 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. (NIV)

On my bedroom wall, I have a framed print of the famous scene painted by W. Holman Hunt of Jesus standing at the door knocking. It belonged to my grandmother, and it always hung beside her bed, which we shared when I would visit. As a youngster, though, I had no idea what the painting was all about. I do remember that it was always the last thing that I would see at night amidst the gathering darkness and the first thing that I would gaze upon in the morning as the glow of dawn crept forth.

As I matured into an adult, I came to understand what the artist was seeking to portray, as Jesus stands knocking upon a door that has no handle on its outside. Christ desires to have an intimate, personal relationship with each and every one of us, but He loves us far too much to simply barge into our lives uninvited. Rather, He patiently stands and knocks upon our heart's door with the hope that we will choose to open it and invite Him in.

Opening a door, however, can be done several ways. Some doors have safety locks on them, allowing us to open them a crack and speak, without ever removing the extra latch. Sometimes, we may open a door halfway, but still block the entrance with our body. Other times, we may choose to open the door widely but only visit across the threshold. And then, there are the times when we allow the door to swing to its fullest extent and invite the knocker to enter and enjoy the hospitality of our home and the intimacy of fellowship.

As I pondered these thoughts not long ago, my hope in regards to my ongoing relationship with Christ was that the door of my heart, each and every day, will stand fully open, with the welcome mat out, so that the fullness of His presence might be the last thing that I enjoy at night amidst the gathering darkness and the first thing that I gaze upon in the morning as the glow of dawn creeps forth.

How about you? How far is the door of your heart open when it comes to inviting in Christ, the One who seeks daily to fellowship to the fullest with each and every one of us?

Prayer: Father God, we give You thanks that we have the opportunity each and every day to enjoy Your presence and fellowship to the fullest, through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us the faith and trust always to leave the door of our hearts wide open and the welcome mat set. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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