“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:

1. Jesus is standing at the door and he wants to come in
2. Jesus wants to come in so that he can fellowship with those inside
3. Jesus is knocking
4. 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.

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

Pastor John Ortberg tells the following story:

This year we had a daughter graduate from Azusa Pacific University. My wife spoke at the commencement, so we gathered with a group of fifty or so faculty, alumni, and administration before the ceremony. A few dozen people had graduated fifty years earlier, and they were there also to celebrate with their freshly minted co-alumns.

At one point, Jon Wallace, the university president, pulled three seniors into the center of the room and told us all they were going to be serving under-resourced people in impoverished areas for several years after graduation. The graduating seniors said a few words about where they were going and why, and we applauded. They thought that was why they were there. Then Jon turned his back to the rest of us, faced the three students, and told them the real reason they were in the room.

“Somebody you do not know has heard what you’re doing,” Jon said. “He wants you to be able to serve the people where you are going without any impediment. So he has given a gift. He has asked to remain anonymous, but here is what he has done for you.”

Jon turned to the first student and looked her in the eye. “You have been forgiven your school debt of $105,000.”

It took a few moments for the words to sink in. The student shook her head at first. The thought registered. She began to cry at the sheer unexpected generosity of a mountain of debt wiped out in a moment by someone she had never met.

Jon turned to the next student. “You have been forgiven your debt of $70,000.”

Jon turned to the third student. By this time she knew what was coming. But it was as if she could not believe it was happening until she heard the words. “You have been forgiven your debt of $130,000.”

All three students were trembling. Their lives had been changed in a twinkling by the extravagance of someone they had never met. All of us who watched were so moved, it was as if we had experienced the forgiveness ourselves. There was not a dry eye in the room.

An unpayable debt. An unseen giver. Unforgettable gift.

That’s grace.

That’s Jesus.

That’s forgiveness.

Friends, “You have been forgiven your debt. Jesus paid it all.”

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry , “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

Abba.

Daddy.

That’s what Abba literally means.

That Christians called God “Father” was shocking enough. What creatures dare call God their father? Gods are supposed to be feared, revered, honored. God is called Lord, Master, King, Mighty One, Exalted One. But, you don’t call God Father! Who do you think you are?!?!

And yet, not only do Christians call God, Father, but we have the audacity to call him Daddy – abba.

Why, that’s just scandalous!

We take God being our loving Father and daddy for granted because that’s the way we’ve always known him. But this was not always the case. It’s only because of what Jesus accomplished for us through the cross and the empty tomb that we – who are sinners deserving of God’s wrath and judgment – have become sons and daughters of God. We have been adopted into God’s family.

The late Tim Keller writes, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3am for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”

Abba.

Daddy.

That’s good news!