Is Jesus Locked Out?
Hungry - Day 4
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7.
I've found that God meets me where I am, but he can only take me where I am willing to go.
When I am earnestly pursuing a relationship with the Lord my heart grows more tender toward him and more sensitive to his voice. I want to talk with him, and go on walks with him and worship him. It's just like any relationship. The more time I spend with him, the more I get to know him. That familiarity develops into trust and eventually an unexplainable love.
The less time I spend with the Holy Spirit, however, the more distant I become. His voice grows harder to hear until I don't even want to pray or pick up my Bible (Hate to admit that, but I'm always real. You've been there too).
Revelations 3 tells us that the church of Laodicea had grown blind with their own knowledge. They thought they had all the answers, but Jesus said they were arrogant with their spirituality and blinded with their own pride.
Jesus also nailed them on their vanilla, complacent, condition of "status quo". He basically states that he rescues the desperate whose hearts are cold, and he fills the hungry with fire for him, but he rejects those who have tasted of his goodness but settle for the information without the relationship.
In fact, God illustrates that when we grow self-reliant we actually lock him out of our heart!
"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." Rev 3:20.
We interpret that to mean Jesus knocks on the door of the heart of the unsaved. This scripture is actually written to the church. Jesus is knocking on the heart of the saved, in hopes that we will allow him back in.
If we are satisfied with religion, we will only know the Jesus that we are told about in church. We are saved, but not much changes. If we seek the Lord with all our heart, however, we will not only find the King but we will also discover his kingdom. Everything changes in the Kingdom of God, including us.
Challenge: Consider your relationship with the Lord. If you were Jesus would you be your friend? Do you think he feels welcomed into your life or would he feel lonely and neglected? Guard and cherish your personal relationship with Jesus Christ to insure that you never replace the presence of him with the knowledge of him.
- Deanna
