He’s Still Knocking

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” Revelation 3:20

A picture I vividly recall from my childhood days in church displayed a large wooden door surrounded by green vines with a robed figure of Jesus standing outside. His hand is raised, obviously ready to knock. An important feature of the door is that there is no handle on the outside, indicating that it can only be opened from the inside. The message behind the painting is that Jesus waits outside our lives until we are ready to invite Him in into our lives.

But this morning I read these words, written in form and language far more common to our grandparent’s ears than to our modern ears: “I bless thee for that knocking at my heart’s door that warns me of thy waiting presence.”

I wonder how many times during the day Jesus gently knocks to warn me of his waiting presence? Not a warning that danger is imminent (though that may be true), but to warn in the sense of putting me on the alert, giving me notice that he is ready to give counsel or send some special message of his love.

Today we more often hear the loud ring of a doorbell, not a gentle knock. Doorbells can be intrusive; knocks can easily be ignored. I need to listen carefully for the gentle knocks on the door of my heart. I don’t want to miss his presence.

Jesus, thank you for consistently, insistently knocking at the door of my life. Help me tune my ears so that I don’t miss even a whisper of your message.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission