I wonder how Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts? Does he rap loudly and aggressively to get our attention? Does he tap softly that we can only just hear it?
Or, do we think Jesus has a chainsaw and will cut our door down without our permission or that he has merely given up and walked away?
I suppose it comes down to who we think Jesus is.
I used to think that Jesus would break the lock and push his way through the door of my heart, unannounced, unexpected, and expose the shame within.
I used to think that Jesus would give up and walk away as he was so frustrated at my inability to open the door due to fear.
I guess I have realised that we have many doors in our hearts. A door from the outside into the main foyer. A door to the kitchen, a door to the dining room and so on until we get to our private bedroom door.
Sadly I think that many only let Jesus into the main foyer. Much like a guest, Jesus is shown into the neat and orderly foyer, maybe even given a cup of tea while we engage Him in civil conversation about the weather and biblical truth. They foyer is a safe place to invite strangers. Nothing really precious is kept there, but first impressions count.
Love is patient.
I think Jesus is the most patient person I know.
He knocks gently, yet persistently. He knocks, waiting for us to understand that He is more than a scarey all-powerful stranger, more than the God stereotypes we box Him in.
He knocks patiently as he knows us. He knows our pain. He knows our potential. He knows already what lies behind each and every door, and waits for the delight of relationship with us. A delight in us learning to trust him enough to open the doors of our heart to Him, welcome Him in and sup with him there, in the midst of our brokenness, humanness and vulnerability.
We won’t learn much about Jesus in the foyer.
We won’t learn much unless we let Jesus into the rooms of our heart.
I suppose it all comes down to who we think Jesus is.
I think Jesus is the true sheperd. He leads us home where we can discover in freedom who Father God and the Holy Spirit really are. He leads us to a place of rest. He restores our soul. He carries us when we are broken-hearted. He finds us when we are lost. He has given everything to save us from an enemy that is too strong for us.
I think Jesus is so much greater than we can ever know or imagine. I think the joy of God is our willingness to have Him join us on the journey of discovery in our hearts. How many rooms? I still have many to open.
Has it been worth it?
If worth it means I am freer, that I know my creator - God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit better, that I have encountered a love that is unconditional, unfathomable and real, a love that pursues and redeems me in the darkest of places, then YES it has been worth everything.
Let us open the doors of our heart to the only one that truly knows us.
Let us open the private bedroom door to Jesus, the most vulnerable part of our heart.
It changes your heart when we sup with Him,
in taking a risk with the God who created us and discovering love
and acceptance in places we never though possible.
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
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