HOW INDIFFERENCE AFFECTS JESUS "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20). -- Tomorrow:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev 3:14-22)
Devotion 17 of 20
There is a tone of urgency in these words. These are not words to be casually pondered. They demand an immediate response. Toward the close of Christ's earthly ministry, He also spoke of His people opening the door to Him. In that instance, His reference was to His second coming. His words are arresting. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him IMMEDIATELY" (Luke 12:35-36).
Christ's message to Laodicea will, if heeded, prepare them for that coming. If men will open the door to Jesus now, freely giving Him entrance into their conscious lives, they will be able to joyfully open the door to Him IMMEDIATELY when He comes for His own.
On an intensely personal level, the soul that hears the Voice and opens the door, will experience what the disciples did following Christ's resurrection. Like many in the churches, those disciples had been trying to catch something for a long time, only to have empty nets. For some time they toiled in futility, like many church members do. But when Jesus came and "stood" on the shore, the circumstance changed. Do you remember the incident? He asked them if they had caught anything: "Children, have you any food?" Forlornly, they answered, "No!"
They had heard His voice, now He gives them an opportunity to "open the door." "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." Instantly, opening the door, they cast their nets, and were unable to draw it in because of the multitude of the fish! When finally they all got back to shore, it is written, "Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread." Jesus was going to dine with them! In tender love, He had prepared a special meal for them! Hallelujah! But that is not all. "Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." They would feed on what He had prepared, and He would eat what they had caught. Although 153 large fish was in their net, the net was not broken. Then Jesus said, "COME AND DINE!" (John 21:5-12).
This is what Jesus was calling from outside the Laodicean church! "COME AND DINE!" He wanted to dine with someone – to share with them what He had procured for them! He also wanted them to share with Him the good things they had caught at His direction. He did not call out for a congregation, but for an individual – "anyone: "If any man will!"
O, what a marvelous picture of Jesus – and He is calling still! How sweet the fellowship of Jesus, into which we have been called, and into which He still calls us (1 Cor 1:9). There are more profound insights than you have yet seen, more nourishing delights for the soul than you have yet tasted! There is more joy and peace than you have yet apprehended, and greater strength and grace than you have yet grasped. It may be that you are in an assembly like that of Laodicea. I hope not. But if you are, whatever handicaps may be there, it cannot still the voice of Jesus, or stop you from opening the door to Him!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a calling, speaking, and dining Savior.