Revelation 3:20

Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser.     About The Berean | Archives | Random Berean | Subscriptions               Revelation 3:20 (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. New King James Version   Change your email Bible version Here, Christ is reporting that—in His own church—some know that He is at the door, but they will not rouse themselves from their spiritual lethargy to open it. By implication, they will not invite Him into their lives. As unbelievable as it sounds, there are those in His church who will keep Him on the outside looking in (see Song of Songs 5:2-3)! But there is hope. In Revelation 3:20, that word "if" holds out hope—hope that a Laodicean can repent, can change, can choose to open the door to Christ rather than ignore Him. Are we opening the door? Are we opening ourselves up to Christ to build the kind of relationship that will lead to eternal life (John 17:3)? Our calling is irrevocable (Romans 11:29), and it is God's will that we succeed (John 6:39-40). And when a thing is God's will, Isaiah 14:24 says, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand." God has given us everything we need to succeed; we just have to open the door. Are we opening the door? There are some easy tests: » Are we diligently praying, studying, meditating, fasting, and not allowing our deceitful and sleepy natures to accept excuses for failure? » Are we opening our minds and hearts during services by being alert and eager? » Are we wise or foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-12)? Have we been lulled to sleep and see no need for urgency (II Peter 3:4)? God knows the true answers to each one of these questions. Do we? These relationship-building tools are our Christian responsibilities. They are the daily, little things given to us that, in a large measure, tell God the real intentions of our hearts. Failure to handle these "trifles" proves us as unfaithful servants (Luke 16:10-13). One who gives careless attention to his responsibilities is a Laodicean. We need to open our doors to Christ as never before because, as Romans 13:11 says, "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." — Pat Higgins To learn more, see: Are We Opening the Door? Related Topics: Diligence Faithfulness in Little Things Foolish Virgins Laodiceanism Relationship with Christ Responsibility, Sense of Spiritual Lethargy Spiritual Slumber Vigilance Commentary copyright © 1992-2015 Church of the Great God New King James Version copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Please cancel my subscription to The Berean                 The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment is made possible through voluntary contributions to the Church of the Great God. P.O. Box 471846 Charlotte, NC 28247 803-802-7075