Revelation 3:19-4:2
"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" (Revelation 3:20). What wonderful, loving words from Jesus to the church of Laodicea. And they're coming immediately after He has given them a stern rebuke, He's warned them about being disciplined and He's called them to be zealous in repenting. Pretty amazing, don't you think? That even when we're not where we should be in our relationship with the Lord that He still loves us and desires to know us and for us to know Him?
So wherever you're at with your relationship with Christ today, what can you do to make it better? What can you do to make sure the door of your heart is wide open and that you're actively at the table "dining" with Christ? Tami W.
* For more on today's topic, tune in to Back to the Bible. Or, get the entire Revelation series on CD.
An awsome example of Gods complete love for us. At times He takes us firmly by the shoulders, looks us deep in the spirit and shakes us up with some mighty conviction. Yet His arms are always open to receive us if we are truly repentant and have a heart to serve Him. I have been shaken many times by my Lord but I also know the joy and tears that come when I realize that He loves me more that I deserve or can imagine. Thank you Father!!
For me, I need to be actively listening for that voice all the time. I hate it when I let the everyday worries and noise drown out that voice. The most helpful verse for me in this respect has been Luke 12:22-31. I almost have to read it every other day; but if I can stay focused on God's Word, everything else will fall into place.
Tami
Today I will truly praise God in my prayer, my prayer shall be one of praise to God for all his goodness to me.
Praise him who has opened the door to provide security for me. I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart.
Be Faithful!. Keep on keeping on. There is something better waiting for us that I can't even imagine! I confess my sins and know God is faithful..Even when I'm not. I know that what He did on the cross, completed my salvation. It is FINISHED! There is nothing more I can do to attain it. I just want to please HIM and live my life for HIM. A stuggle it will be within an unbelieving and greedy world that is all about "me me me". But I will give give give, because I can't outgive GOD! Lord help me/us to be a cheerful obedient giver who Know Your Word and will live it. Help me/us to put on the full armor of God and Pray in the Holy Spirit for each other and all believers.
I used to have a little cellphone ringtone, that I set for any email,or text messages, that came thru. It was a man's voice that said, "Read the mail, read the mail, read the mail!" What I MUST do in order to stay zealous for the Lord and His message, and to be aware of those times I need to repent, is to: "READ THE WORD, READ THE WORD, READ THE WORD!" Perhaps, I need to put THAT on my cellphone! (Well, there IS 411GOD, and SEE ME CHANGE.)
But, for me, that is the key. As many on P4 have already stated. Because, when we STAY in God's Word, we learn, we grow, and are convicted of our sins. And, likewise, if we are sincere, then the Word changes us. When we are down, we will be lifted up. When we are sick, we will remember our Lord's suffering and how He loves us and understands. When WE are weak, we will read of HIS power and strength and be blessed.
Also, for some reason, it truly does lift ME up and bless ME, whenever I find any way at all to minister to someone else with a need. When I help that person, God has strengthened me. His Word is where we will find comfort, peace, and great joy. And, as we are learning in our study of Revelation, we have no need to fear our Lord. He always says, "Fear Not." We need only to love, revere and obey Him.
I have to give my God thanks everyday for His love, His mercy, His compassion and His forgiveness. I have to keep reading His Word everyday and when I err I have to acknowledge that I have sinned and seek His forgiveness. It hurts my heart when I mess up. I truly just want to continue to serve Him. I receive Him with love and joy and hopes that I will hear His voice and that He will dine with me.
May God bless us all.
I love this passage. When I first was learning to hear the voice of God, I heard the trumpets sounding, I felt giddy like a child. To think the simplicity of just opening the door, telling Jesus come on in and the rivers of love, grace and joy come pouring in. Embracing everlasting forgiveness.
I think if we will fast and pray and seek Gods face through bible study and prayer and try and apply what God teaches us and if we will gather together with other believers and worship and praise God, thin this will help us to stay open to God. fasting and asking God to create in me a pure heart has done a lot for me in my relationship with God.