Advent Devotional - Part 3
Read Revelation 3:14-22
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 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.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
He Knocks
Our Lord is knocking on your door. He knocks in the boring moments and in the hectic seasons. He knocks in the middle of the night, in the midst of a meeting, while you’re driving to the grocery store, and while you’re waiting in the ER. It may be abrupt it may even inconvenient, but he is knocking and the question is: How will you respond?
Will you ignore the knocking? Will you ignore the stirring in your heart that comes from a sermon, or the warnings that come from his word? What about those tears that are right on the edge of your eyes as you remember past hurts. Will you ignore those? Even now as you read this devotion, can you sense that he is gently tapping on your heart? Jesus is no respecter of persons or of seasons; he always comes at the right time. In the middle of life he arrives for you. How will you receive him?
In the Gospel of Luke we hear about how the angel Gabriel visited Mary and revealed God’s plan to her. Mary was let-in on the grand plan for all creation, and she was told that she was a part of it. What was her response? “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” This is not lukewarm faith! The simple act of agreeing with God’s plan lights a fire in the heart of a person and in the world. It is a fire that can warm the soul and refine the heart. Through Mary’s obedience God brought Christ into the world so that his obedience could save us all. A simple “yes” to our Lord creates a path for him to come into our lives and transform us from people who grope in the dark to people who rejoice in the light of his love.
It is through simple obedience that our Lord can be received. John 14:23 says, “Anyone who loves me (Jesus) will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
Where in your life do you need to obey the Lord?
Where does repentance need to happen so that you can receive the fullness of Christ in your life?
During this week of Advent spend 20 minutes each day in prayer. Slowly read through the book of Philippians, ask the Lord to shine a light on those areas where, out of love for him, you need to be more obedient. Jesus did not wait for us to knock on his door; he came before we knew we needed him.
He comes to us with the fire of love.
He gives his life obediently on the cross.
He saves us from sin and death.
Out of love he has come for you; he is knocking on your door.
How will you receive him today?
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