There are moments in life that feel like a quiet knock on the door of our hearts. Have you ever experienced a time where you felt a soft but persistent nudge, urging you to pause and listen? It’s as if something outside of yourself beckons for your attention and presence. Revelation 3:20 offers a beautiful image that captures this feeling. It says:
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.
Revelation 3:20
The Invitation
The imagery here is intimate and profound. Jesus is standing at the door, extending a personal *invitation*. It’s not a forceful entry or a loud demand. Instead, it’s a gentle and patient knocking, waiting for us to hear and respond. This passage is essentially about the depth of relationship Jesus desires to have with us. It’s not just about a casual acquaintance but a genuine connection, highlighted by the act of sharing a meal together—an ancient symbol of companionship and fellowship.
Hearing the Knock
But how do we hear this knock? In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we can become so distracted by noise—our phones buzzing, the TV blaring, our schedules demanding more of us—that we miss these quieter moments. The voice at the door often competes with the chaos around us. To hear it, we need to cultivate a practice of *stillness* and attentiveness, giving space for these moments to reach us.
Opening the Door
Opening the door is an *act of faith*. It’s a decision to welcome Jesus into the messiness and mystery of our lives. Imagine how vulnerable it is to open your home—your personal space—to someone. In the same way, inviting Jesus in means exposing both the neat and tidy aspects and the cluttered corners of our hearts. Yet, it’s this openness that begins the transformation.
Dining Together
The promise in this verse is deeply relational: “I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Dining together is not just about sharing food; it’s about sharing life, stories, joys, and struggles. This is the kind of communion Jesus offers—a shared life, where our burdens are lightened and our joys multiplied in His presence.
A Present Reality
While it might be tempting to think of this as a future promise, the message in Revelation 3:20 is very much about the *present moment*. It’s about the everyday opportunity to commune with Jesus, to encounter love and grace in our daily lives. The knock at the door is a daily occurrence, inviting us to live in ongoing fellowship with Christ.
So, how might we respond? Perhaps it starts with a simple pause, a quiet moment to listen, and an open heart ready to welcome the presence that seeks to dwell with us. Let our hearts become homes where love resides and grace abounds.