June 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Revelation 3:14–22

Devotional

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” The Lord spoke these words to the worst of the seven churches of Asia Minor. In the church of Laodicea they were neither hot nor cold. They were lukewarm, and therefore, according to God’s own words, they were worthy to be spewed out of His mouth. They really could expect nothing other than that this would be the final word Christ would speak to this church and that He would then justly reject them forever.

But, no, Christ still comes with His love instead of His judgment. He comes with His condescending love for sinners. In this love He humbles Himself so low that He behaves as a beggar. Does not a beggar continually knock on a door, waiting until someone opens? Oh, certainly this One who knocks is the almighty King. If He so desired, one wink of His almighty power would be more than enough to break open the bolts of that door. But He will not use force. He does not use violence. The door is bolted on the inside and the sinner has to open up the door voluntarily from within. As he opens, he ought to cry out, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof ” (Matt. 8:8).

Christ stands at the door and He knocks. He knocks and cries out many times. He makes use of many admonitions, and gives many directives. He utters many warnings. He comes with many tokens of His lovingkindness. He has many dealings and makes use of many events. He knocks in many different ways. He knocks with the hammer of His holy law, but also sounds the silver trumpet of the gospel. He knocks on the door in days of sickness and adversities. Prosperity can also be a knock on the door. Regardless if it is a time to weep or a time to rejoice, He is knocking. There is never a time when He is not knocking on the door of our heart.

Christ’s knocking at the door of our heart will only cease when there is no more time, for then the bolts of our eternal well-being or our eternal destruction are set forever. But for now He knocks and He waits. He is listening to see if there is still a lost person who needs Christ to reconcile him to God.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.