“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 3:20
I’ve been attempting some remodel projects on my home and a good friend of mine asked if he could help. I invited him over this last weekend, but in the middle of a remodel, things are a bit messy. In fact, I even found myself embarrassed walking him through my garage with piles of trash just towering there. Please tell me I’m not alone…feeling humiliated when all my trash is exposed!
This verse in Revelation reminds me of the picture of Jesus which hung in my grandmother’s home during my childhood. He’s standing at the door and knocking and even announces, “Here I am!” Notice the exclamation point. Jesus is excited to be in your presence! But, oh my, if He only knew of all the trash I’ve stored in my garage. Would He really want to come in? How humiliating. Get this…He does know and yet still wants to be with me!
In Mark 10, verse 21, we are told of the “rich young ruler” who, I’m guessing, had a lot of stuff stored up. Jesus knew some of that stuff was greed, or selfishness, or whatever ugliness that might be and Scripture tells us “He looked at him and loved” him. Regardless of the junk we have stored up, Jesus already knows, yet He continues to pursue you, knock at the door for you, and love you.
I believe this is foundational to understanding His love for us. Even though I’m a sinner, with a heart full of junk, Jesus was willing to give His all for me. As we continue to understand this kind of love, may your ears hear His knocking on the door. May you have the courage to open the door and see Him look at you and love you.
Jesus, thank you for knocking on the door and loving me exactly where I am. Show me how to love others as you have loved me. Amen.