Daily Devotionals

Dead End Desperation Week 6: Friday

"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

The other day I went over to a new friend’s house. I knocked on her door a little bit softly. When she did not answer, I knocked a little more loudly. When she still did not answer, I knocked even louder. Still, she did not hear my knocking, so I rang her doorbell. Next, believe it or not, she still did not hear, so I rang her doorbell again. Finally, she came to the door. I felt a bit silly standing at her door, continuing to knock and ringing her doorbell, but doing these things was the only way to get her to open the door so that I could come in. I made every effort to let her know I was at her house and ready to open the door. Although I felt like I went to great lengths to get her to open the door, my effort pales in comparison to Christ’s in seeking those who are lost and waiting for them to turn to Him. 

John reminds us that God is waiting for us to turn to Him in Revelation 3. Specifically addressing a church in Laodicea, Jesus, through John, spoke against the fact that they were living lives that were not set apart solely for Him. Instead, they were living in a way that was lukewarm. They were trying to live for Him while still holding on to the world. In other words, they were wandering. Amidst this teaching, Jesus taught them that He was disciplining them because He loved them. He reminded them that they could always turn back to Him. He said, “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” (verse 20). Jesus reminded them that He offers life and relationship to all who come to Him. Not only is He waiting, but He is also actively knocking at the door to get our attention, wanting us to open the door for Him. He has offered the gift of being found in Him. We have to receive it, however.

Jesus makes it clear: the gift of life and relationship can only be found in Him. He offers it freely. We have to take the gift and accept it. We have to accept His gift and make room for Him. The question we have to answer today is, “Have we accepted it?” Have we made room for Him? There is no better time than right now to commit to following Him and making room for Him for the rest of our lives.

Moving toward action

One of the ways we can be a part of helping reach those who are lost is by sharing our own stories. Who is someone you can share your faith with today? Make a plan to share your two-minute story of how Christ changed your life with that person this week. Tell them that He wants to change their lives too. May we consistently share the love of God with the people around us.

Going Deeper

Revelation 3:1-22 (NLT)

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
and what he closes, no one can open:

8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

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. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”