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 Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 


This verse is often applied to unbelievers. They need to 'open the doors of their hearts' to Jesus, we're told. The Holy Spirit had a different application in the original context.

This verse was applied to a church, a group of professing believers. They thought they were the bee's knees, but Jesus was absent. However great we may think we are, if the Lord is absent, we are nothing. 

Jesus doesn't wash his hands of us, even if we're blind to the fact he's absent and we're all self-congratulatory. He's knocking on the door of his people's hearts, calling us to open up to him. If we do, we will enjoy sweet fellowship with him.

William Holman Hunt famously illustrated this verse. Jesus, the Light of the world, knocked on a door without an outside handle. He wasn't going to batter down the door, but like a gentleman waits for us to open up to him.

'God, forbid that we would be blind to your absence and deaf to your invitation to fellowship with you. We ask in the beautiful name of Jesus, amen'.

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