Revelation 3:20 (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. New King James Version Do we really want fellowship with God? Our frequent contact with God, or lack of it, is an easy, concrete measurement for both God and ourselves to know the true answer. A Laodiceans central characteristic is an aversion to Gods presence. He does not gladly throw open the doors to let Christ in. Instead, he wants his privacy to pursue his own interests, unimpeded by the constraints Gods presence would impose. Striving to pray always throws open the door of our minds to God, and just as Luke 21:36 indicates, by vigilant watching we can spot our Laodicean tendencies, overcome them, and avoid tribulation. Commentator Albert Barnes makes some interesting points on Revelation 3:20: The act of knocking implies two things: (a) that we desire admittance; and (b) that we recognise the right of him who dwells in the house to open the door to us or not, as he shall please. We would not obtrude upon him; we would not force his door; and if, after we are sure that we are heard, we are not admitted, we turn quietly away. Both of these things are implied here by the language used by the Saviour when he approaches man as represented under the image of knocking at the door: that he desires to be admitted to our friendship; and that he recognises our freedom in the matter. He does not obtrude himself upon us, nor does he employ force to find admission to the heart. If admitted, he comes and dwells with us; if rejected, he turns quietly away—perhaps to return and knock again, perhaps never to come back. Striving to pray always is our conscious choice to let God in. Psalm 4:4 (Contemporary English Version, CEV) emphasizes the seriousness of examining ourselves: But each of you had better tremble and turn from your sins. Silently search your heart as you lie in bed. Every night, at the end of another busy day, provides us—and God—an opportunity to evaluate the true intent of our hearts. We can ask ourselves: How much and how often did we acknowledge God throughout our day? How much did we talk to Him and fellowship with Him today? Where did we miss opportunities to do it? Why? Perhaps the biggest question to ask is this: When did we hear the still small voice today and hide from Gods presence? Our daily answers to these self-examination questions and our practical responses could in a large measure determine where we spend both the Tribulation and eternity (Luke 21:36). — Pat Higgins To learn more, see: Praying Always (Part Five) Related Topics: Acknowledging God Acknowledging God in Our Lives Acknowledging Gods Presence Ask, Seek, and Knock Examining Ourselves Fellowship with Christ Fellowship with God Knock at the Door Knocking as Metaphor Laodicean Attitude Laodiceanism Persistent Prayer Prayer, Persistence in Praying Always Praying at All Times Praying Every Moment Praying in all Times Praying without Ceasing Relationship with Christ Relationship With God Self Examination Still Small Voice Tribulation Tribulation, Protection from New King James Version copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 09:23:24 +0000