“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 that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).
The verse of the day is a well known verse amongst church going folk, and the painting that we think of is the one above. There are several things to note about the verse and the painting:
- Jesus is standing at the door and he wants to come in
- Jesus wants to come in so that he can fellowship with those inside
- Jesus is knocking
- There is no door knob. The only way this door can be opened is from the inside
The verse is often used to invite non-Christians to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. And, it can be used that way because Jesus loves non-Christians too, but that’s not the context of this passage. The people inside that this passage is referring to are the Christians at Laodicea. Jesus is knocking on the door asking the people of the church of Laodicea to let him in.
Just because there is a cross or a steeple or it says such and such church does not necessarily mean that Jesus is present there. There are contexts in where the church gathers but Jesus is absent because the church isn’t gathered because of Jesus. The church has her own agendas other than the agenda of Jesus. When that happens, Jesus is on the outside knocking on the door.
The church exists because Jesus has given the church a mission. That mission is to make disciples and grow disciples who share the love of Jesus with all people. When the church is about anything other than this mission, Jesus is standing on the outside wanting to be let in.
The Little Church on the Prairie and Lakewoodgrace exists for one purpose, and one purpose only – to Make Disciples and Grow Disciples who Share the love of Jesus with all people.
Keep the main thing the main thing.
Praxis: Faith in Action 