Revelation 3:20

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

Revelation 3:20 is an intriguing verse in the last book of the Bible. It presents Christ's invitation to begin a relationship with him. In this passage, Jesus states that he stands at the door and knocks. His desire is that we hear his voice and open the door to him. If we do that, he will fellowship with us.

Sounds simple enough, but is it?

What's interesting about this verse is that Jesus is not threatening to break into our lives. Instead, he stands patiently, knocking on the door. He isn't going to pick the lock or kick in the door. He merely raps on the entryway and he calls out to us.

Jesus is engaged. He is the one who initiates contact, but he waits for our response. We have a role to play in this.

To have a relationship with our creator, we must accept his invitation. Indeed, we must open the door to let him into our life. He's doing most of the work; we are merely turning the handle.

So what keeps us from responding? Are we simply asleep in a back room? Are we so distracted by the tasks and temptations of this life that we don't hear the knock or his call? Or maybe we ignore the invitation because we are worried we might have to share something we want to keep for ourselves? Or perhaps we feel embarrassed by how messy our home has become?

What's holding you back from starting or strengthening a friendship with God? Is it distraction, apathy, selfishness, or fear? Is it something else? What will it cost you to open the door, what will it cost you if you don't?

(New Living Translation; photo credit: Dale Pike via Unsplash)