Daily Devotional

-August 14, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

(Revelation 3:19-20).

In the book of Revelation, there are seven churches. Each one existed in John’s day. These seven churches also represent the various times in the history of the church. The Apostle John wrote this book along with the Gospel of God, and three letters, first, second, and third John.

When John was old and banished to the island of Patmos for his faith in Jesus Christ, he wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ. At this time, the apostle received a direct revelation from our Savior. Revelation 1:19 says, “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”

The Seven churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The Lord Jesus speaks with specific words for each one. They are found in Revelation 2 and 3. Today’s text is directed to the last of the seven churches, Laodicea. The faithful church Philadelphia exists side by side with the lukewarm church Laodicea.

The message to Laodicea is to be zealous and repent. Our Lord rebuked them for being lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, and for being proud and self-reliant. He described their spiritual condition as saying that “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” It is a sad and dangerous thing when those who name the name of Christ have this disposition. The opposite was really true, Jesus called them “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

We as believers today need to walk closely with Lord, depend fully on Him, obey His Word, and show His light and love in this the dark, sinful world. We must be on guard against spiritual pride and the feelings of superiority over others. Verse 20 is so often applied to the gospel to the unsaved, and it is applicable to that purpose, but it is written to those religious people who the name of Christ but do not follow His teachings or walk in His ways. Their religion is stiff, stale, and off track.

Jesus stands and the door and patiently knocks at one’s heart, seeking to come in and have fellowship. The door knob of the heart is not on the outside but on the inside, He will never force His way in. He has given each person a choice to receive Him as Lord and Savior and give over the controls of one’s heart to Him. My heart, your heart is a throne. There is only room for one to sit on that throne, Jesus or you and me.

In our world today, so many think they are so intelligent, educated, talented, and self-sufficient that they do not need Jesus. They feel they can make their own decisions, control their own destinies. They are on a path that leads to death and destruction. We need Jesus! We need Him to be in control, to guide us, direct us, and help us. We cannot make it on our own! When we open our hearts to Him, He will lead us in the right way, the straight and narrow way that leads to everlasting life. We must choose to open our lives to Him, fully and completely. He will only reign over surrendered hearts.

Have a blessed day of inviting Jesus into your life and giving Him full control. He is patiently knocking. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean