Experiencing God's Presence #67

Experiencing God's Presence #67

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Revelation 3:20

Jesus stands at the door and knocks. That’s a great image to use in an evangelistic presentation—and it’s undoubtedly true—but that’s not the context of the verse. No, the words of Jesus to the church at Laodicea appeal to the congregation to stop shutting Him out. They have been indifferent to Him, and their lukewarmness is nauseating to God. They have been having their feasts, specifically the Lord’s Supper, without His Presence. They are a church going through the motions but not filled and empowered with the Presence of the living Lord. This “body of Christ” is behaving as though it is lifeless.

That can easily happen to our congregations too. We go through the motions and “do church” by habit rather than by the Living One spontaneously moving in and through us. We have programs and policies that take on a life of their own, slowly marginalizing the Jesus who birthed the church to begin with. If we aren’t careful, the church becomes an impersonal organization rather than a living organism.

Guard your fellowship zealously—not to keep it in its patterns and habits but to keep it responsive to each breath of the Spirit. The picture of Jesus standing outside of His own church is tragic. Not only does that disappoint Him, it leaves His people without their source of life. Any fellowship that isn’t experiencing supernatural fruit is missing Jesus. Without the Presence, it’s nothing more than a club or committee. With Him, it’s a living temple of God Himself.

Jesus, I open the door to You and invite You into the fellowship of those I worship with. We need You. Without Your Presence, we have no reason to exist. Please enter in, eat with us, and let us enjoy Your friendship and life.