Is Jesus Knocking on the Door of Your Heart?

 

 

Shadia Hrichi, cbn. com

Recently, I had a new front door installed on my home. Upon inspecting the door, the contractor asked if I wanted a peephole installed, assuring me it would only take a few extra minutes. While he was busy drilling the hole, I made a quick run to Home Depot to purchase the peephole. For only a few dollars, I’d have the security and comfort of being able to see who was knocking at my door before deciding whether to open it.

After all, a knock on the door by itself tells me nothing about who is standing on the other side, preventing me from making an informed decision. Apparently, making an informed decision was important to Jesus as well. In chapter three in the book of Revelation, we read that Jesus is standing at a door, knocking:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 (NASB)

While the Scripture is presented as a letter to the church as a whole, in this context, the church is also understood as being comprised of individual souls who each have turned away from God. The apostle Paul teaches us in Romans 3:11 that no one seeks God. Rather, Scripture teaches us that because of His glorious mercy and grace, God seeks us! This is clear in Jesus’s willingness to stand behind the closed door and knock. Therefore, many understand this illustration as being representative of our individual hearts. Either way we look at it, Jesus does not leave the person behind the door wondering who is knocking. As the story continues, we find that Jesus is not only knocking, He is also speaking from the other side, “If any man hears my voice…” Have you ever wondered what Jesus was saying from outside the closed door? The previous verse gives us a bit of a clue as He admonishes the church, “…turn from your indifference.” (Revelation 3:19). And yet, we are still given a choice: even if we hear His voice, He leaves it up to us whether to open the door and invite Him in.

So what happens after we open the door? Does He come barreling in and start pointing out our dirty laundry or rearranging the furniture? Some may not open the door for fear Jesus intends to condemn us for all that is wrong with our lives; however, Scripture makes it clear this is not the case. The verse goes on to explain that Jesus knocks on the door of our heart so that, “…he [will dine] with me.” The NLT says it this way, “we will share a meal together as friends.”

Jesus has come for the relationship. He does not force His way in, or arrive in order to condemn us; rather, Jesus knocks on the door of our heart in order to present a gift – the gift of Himself so that through Him, we may become children of God.

“He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:10-12 (NLT)

Defying Gravity

 

by Katherine Britton  crosswalk.com

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” – 1 Chronicles 29:14

While I was in elementary school, family friends made the decision to leave the States for Kiev, Ukraine. This family of seven, including children my age, had to downgrade from a four-bedroom suburban home to an 800 square foot flat. That meant getting rid of a house full of clothes, toys, yard tools, furniture, dishes – a whole host of personal preferences and “needs.” Each family member had the luxury of one big trunk as they moved halfway around the world.

For this family, however, the joy of sharing the Gospel in a former USSR satellite nation outweighed all their possessions. My dad asked his friend how he was handling the sudden “loss.” His answer was telling.

“Actually,” the new missionary responded, “this is the most freeing thing I’ve ever done.”

This family found a special freedom far before I began to sniff it out. For me, this reorientation is coming slowly, helped along recently by a little book called The Treasure Principle. In it, Randy Alcorn uses a science metaphor to explain why our friends felt unshackled rather than empty. He writes:

It’s a matter of basic physics. The greater the mass, the greater the hold that mass exerts. The more things we own—the greater their total mass the more they grip us, setting us in orbit around them. Finally, like a black hole, they suck us in.

Consider our materialism that way – the more stuff, the more mass. The more mass, the greater its gravitational pull. And the harder it is to escape.

Compare this to David’s exhilaration in 1 Chronicles. He is humbled not by how much God has blessed him with – but by how much God has allowed him to give away. The king of Israel, a center of the ancient world, found his joy not in the palaces and the women at his disposal, but in the act of returning to God was rightfully God’s. How many of us can say the same?

We live in a physical, material world. But we have the chance to defy its hold on us with every cent, toy, and “need” that comes our way. Are you ready?

All Your Days

 

by Anna Kuta, crosswalk.com

“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

Last month, my family was saddened to hear the news of a friend who suffered an untimely and tragic death. A believer in Christ, he had struggled with dementia for years.

At the funeral, the pastor read this verse from the Psalms:

“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

What a comforting and peaceful reminder that is – that there is nothing we can do to lengthen or shorten our days. How especially powerful those words are for anyone who has lost a loved one “too young.”

Before you were born, God already knew the number of days you would live on this earth. How incredible is that thought? Though circumstances and their timing don’t always make sense, we can trust that God, in his eternal wisdom, has written in His book a grand master plan. As He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9: “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

No death is a surprise to God, nor is any death out of the control of His will. Though none of us know in advance how long we will live, we do know that the Lord is with us from the moment of conception until our last breath – and then for all eternity for those who have put their trust in Him as Savior.

Let us never doubt the significance and impact of any life – no matter how short – for God has ordained all of our days for His purpose.

God Is My Help

 

Paul Linzey, cbn.com

You can probably think of several characters in TV shows, comic books, movies, and novels who have a sidekick. There are lots of them: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Batman and Robin, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Han Solo and Chewbacca, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, Andy Griffith and Barney Fife, Captain Kirk and Spock, Robinson Crusoe and Friday, Robin Hood and Little John, Shrek and Donkey, Moses and Aaron, Paul and Silas.

It seems almost every hero has a sidekick who provides comic relief, but also offers serious friendship and assistance along the way. It’s a classic technique in literature and drama, where sidekicks play an important role. They help the main character reach his or her goals and accomplish the mission. They offer friendship and provide insight. Usually, they perform tasks that are beneath the dignity of the hero. Sometimes they serve as a contrasting personality. The sidekick may be a commoner or a bumbler, allowing the audience someone they can relate with. Usually, the sidekick isn’t quite as smart, but helps the star come up with brilliant ideas. Always, the sidekick is of lesser importance.

A lot of people think of a helper as someone who is less important, less skilled, or less capable than the person who really matters. In our culture, a helper is considered an underling, a hireling, or a subordinate. We call them gophers. We even talk about the hired help—people who do the tasks the important people don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. Words like assistant, adjunct, apprentice, deputy, and sidekick come to mind.

However, that’s not the biblical concept of help. The Hebrew word for helper in the Old Testament is ezer, and comes from a verb that means to rescue, deliver, or help. Whenever it’s used of human beings, it’s talking about someone who is bigger, stronger, more powerful, smarter, or richer who reaches out to the weak or needy.

Most often, the word refers to God himself. The psalmist wrote,

“God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life” (Psalm 54:4, HCSB).

and

“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1, HCSB).

The point is that helping people is what God does. He’s always ready, willing, and able to help us in our time of need. No wonder Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to

” … approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (NIV).

Praising My Way Through Grief

 

 

Elaine Creasman, cbn.com

Praising God when things are going well seems the right thing to do. But when my world seems to be shattered, praising God can feel unnatural. And so it is.

This is why God rejoices when I do it, and my life is transformed in the process.

There’s no doubt that the Word instructs me to keep on praising the Lord—no matter what my circumstances are like.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 KJV

What a challenge this has been in my Christian life. Too often I want to “bless the LORD” with my praise only when all seems right with my world.

When it feels to my near-sighted soul that He has withdrawn His blessings from me–such as when tragedy or trouble comes–I want to withdraw my praise.

The course in the midst of troubles has too often been: I will praise Him when things get better—when He is blessing me again.

The truth is God never stops blessing me. Every day and every moment of the day He pours His grace on me. He helps me through my troubles—if I’m willing to receive that help. His love for me does not change—even though my circumstances may.

Praises can cease when I start judging God– accusing Him of bringing calamity to my life for all sorts of unholy reasons. The truth is God remains holy and righteous through every season of my life. His view of me does not change just because I think it does or because the way I see Him becomes skewed. He is not punishing me through trials just because my wayward soul determines it is so.

When tragedy struck on February 28, 2012 due to the suicide of my brother, there was a part of me that wanted to stop praising God. How can I praise a God who refused to intervene to save this precious life? But those thoughts were short-lived as I determined to stay in praise no matter what my emotions told me.

As I have stayed in the Word—especially in the Psalms—I’ve been reminded that God is deserving of all my praise. Praise the Lord! I’ve recalled all He has brought me through. Praise the Lord! I’ve recollected how at times He has carried me when I’ve felt too weak to go on—both in this tragedy and in the midst of calamities in the past. Praise the Lord!

Not only do I praise God for His faithfulness in days gone by and in my present struggles, but I also praise Him for His promise to be faithful in the future. I feel excited about what He is going to do next to continue to bring good out of this latest heartbreak as He has done with every challenge in my life.

I’m still going through the valley of grief. This month is hard because it’s my brother’s birthday. Suddenly at times I’ve felt overwhelmed with guilt and anger again. Guilt over not doing more to reach out and encourage. Anger over the devil’s taunts that he has won the victory in this tragedy.

When I look at what has happened from God’s perspective, I see Him bringing triumph from tragedy. Hearts are being drawn closer to Him and to each other. I’ve never felt closer to the Lord.

My heart echoes what David said in Psalm 43:5

…for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV)

Will you say and do the same?

Daily Devotion – Luke 8:47 – The Hem of His Garment

 

Written By: Gwen Thielges

She came up behind him and touched the hem of his clothes, and at once her bleeding stopped. Luke 8:47 CEB

THE BLEEDING WOMAN

I love reading about miracles Jesus performed during His ministry on Earth. In the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in between the accounts of Him freeing a demon-possessed man and raising a twelve-year-old girl back to life, we can find the story of Him healing a woman with an “issue of blood.”  And wow, what an issue it was! She endured twelve years of physical pain, being ostracized, and unsuccessfully seeking healing from countless doctors.

Hopeless, helpless and hurting.

I have tried to imagine what my mindset and emotional state would be after a dozen straight years of suffering physically, being rejected socially, and receiving no relief from numerous doctors as they bled my bank account dry. I do not think I would have the strength that she showed when she sought healing from Jesus by pressing into a crowd of people who had likely been unkind and uncaring toward her.

I greatly admire her fortitude, fearlessness and faith. Fortitude helped her withstand twelve long years without healing. Fearlessness compelled her to go to a place where she was not supposed to be. Faith thoroughly convinced her that touching Him would bring healing.

All three of the Gospel accounts record the facts that she touched the hem of His garment, she was instantly healed, and that Jesus told her that her faith had made her well. 

WHY DID JESUS ASK “WHO TOUCHED ME?”

Two of the three Gospels include another intriguing detail: When Jesus felt power leave His body, He asked, “Who touched me?”  Of course, He knew who touched Him; He knew everything! Why did He ask that question aloud and await a verbal response? 

Jesus could have continued on His journey, and He and the woman could have kept a special secret between them. He had places to go and people to heal. However, He took the time to ask the question. 

When she responded, the crowd witnessed the fact that Jesus desired to bring wholeness to a desperate woman. They saw that she mattered to Him. Her importance to Jesus superseded His schedule and social norms. 

YOU MATTER TO JESUS

You matter to Jesus too. Has anyone told you that lately? 

Regardless of what you are going through, you matter to Jesus. Regardless of which road to restoration you are currently traveling, you matter to Jesus. Regardless of how friends and society treat you,  you matter to Jesus. 

You have a Healer who loves you. 

A Great Physician who wants you to be whole. 

You matter.

Muster up your fortitude, fearlessness, and faith. Reach out and touch Him today. 

What Do You Want Jesus To Do for You?

 

 

Katy Kauffman, cbn.com

How would you respond to that question? It’s an inviting question, especially when the Son of God is asking it. Jesus asked two of His disciples,

“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:36 NKJV*).

They had no trouble answering—

“Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory” (Mark 10:37).

There’s bold, and then there’s out of line. Can you imagine someone asking that of Jesus, especially a disciple? But Jesus didn’t scold them. He asked them if they would be willing to suffer as He would have to suffer. He knew they would be persecuted for His sake, but to grant their request was something only the Father could do (Matthew 20:23).

If Jesus came to you with that question—“What do you want Me to do for you?”—what would you tell Him? What secret dreams do you have? What desperate need?

Jesus asked another man that question. As Jesus walked on the road to Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus cried out to Him for mercy. The names he chose for Jesus showed his faith in Him—Son of David and Rabboni (Mark 10:47, 48, 51). Jesus asked him the life-changing question—

“What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51).

Bartimaeus didn’t ask for position or riches, but for a priceless gift—to see.

Jesus said yes. Instead of scurrying away to start his new life, Bartimaeus chose another priceless treasure—he followed Jesus.

In the quiet place of your heart, what do you want the most? God knows the secret desires of our hearts, and He has a promise for us.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

When our desires match God’s desires for us, they will be fulfilled. In God’s timing. In His way.

The hard part of this process is that we may hold on to our desires or our dreams above God’s, because we think they are good. But are they best? God can see what we can’t. He knows what opportunities await us if we’ll trust Him. He knows who we can help that we might not help otherwise.

As we understand more of who God is and watch Him work in our lives, we see that He has our best interests at heart. We see that He desires the best for us. So will we trust Him when we can’t see what He can?

Sometimes we have to wait to see the good. But just as Jesus gave Bartimaeus physical sight, He can give us spiritual sight to see the good He is doing, working all things in our lives for good (Romans 8:28).

Strength, peace, meaningful relationships, a whole heart, a purpose, and a ministry—God has these in store for those who delight in Him and follow Him. So let’s answer Jesus’ question as Bartimaeus did. Let’s ask Him for what will help us to follow Him more. Let’s trust God that He has good in store.

What would you ask Jesus for today? Renewed strength? A new perspective on a tough situation? A chance to minister in a new way in God’s kingdom? May the Lord hear the prayers of your heart, and may we keep an open mind before Him. Not clinging to desires that He doesn’t have for us, and not shutting out the priceless treasures He has in store. What do you want Me to do for you? O Lord, whatever You want.

Find Your Joy

 

 

Gene Markland, cbn.com

I remember the song from Children’s Church, ”The Joy of the Lord is My Strength,” and the verse of laughter when they sing, “Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,” and so on. What a blessing, hearing the pure unadulterated joy and laughter coming from those precious children as they rejoice in the Lord. Yes, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

But do we, as adults, share the joy? How long has it been since we’ve recognized His joy in our own lives, and how does that joy manifest itself?

I remember the story in the Bible when King David was returning the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The joy King David felt as he ushered in the presence of the Lord was almost more than he could contain.

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.” 2 Samuel 6:14-15 (NLT)

It goes on to say that King David leaped and danced before the Lord. In those days, the presence of the Lord, the God of the universe, rested upon that one spot, the Ark of the Covenant. Today, that same presence of the Lord rests within us. Oh, the joy that comes when we recognize this fact.

I’ve personally seen this joy manifested when a person humbly asks Jesus to forgive their sins and come into their heart. I have seen people shout for joy upon receiving their salvation and praise God upon coming out of the water after baptism.

“Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me” Psalm 35:9 (NLT)

I remember as a boy of 17, receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the joy that He brought into my life. I spoke in tongues and laughed for the rest of the night!

Some churches have exuberant praise and worship services where people sing, clap, dance, laugh, and release themselves to rejoice in their Lord’s presence, regardless of what onlookers might think. The Lord loves to see their joy and love for Him displayed in such a manner. But He also enjoys the person whose joy is so deep and personal, that it’s expressed by sitting quietly as they bask in their joy, which resides deep within.

Sometimes the cares of life will weigh us down and it would appear that joy is nowhere to be found. And yes, there is a time for grief and sorrow. Even the Lord Jesus experienced it as He wept over Jerusalem. But when the day is done, the house is quiet, and you relax in the comfort of your dimly lit room, turn your thoughts away from the cares of the day and toward your Lord who lives within you.

Realize that the very presence of God, before whom King David danced, is with you and has shared this day with you. Rejoice, for you possess the Lord, and He possesses you. The communication and fellowship that you have with the Lord is your secret treasure. No one can understand or share in the intimacy that is yours and His alone. The sacredness of this treasure, the presence of God in and with you, is your source of joy and strength. This is not joy as the world knows it, but it’s the kind of joy that comes only from God through the Holy Spirit, “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8)

Don’t let anyone steal your joy. Jesus said,

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (NLT)

It is His will that you live and breathe in the overflow of joy that comes from Him. Acknowledge and encourage His presence to be with you in word and in Spirit so that joy, His joy in you, becomes a lifestyle. The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22 (NLT)

Allow the fruit of joy to grow and manifest itself in your life. Your joy in the Lord is your great source of strength, and no bad report, circumstance, or person can take it away from you!

“So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” Psalm 32:11 (NLT)

Touching the Master

 

 

Merle Mills, cbn.com

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” Mark 5:25-28 (KJV)

This woman was plagued with an issue of blood for 12 years. To have a cold or a sore throat for a few days is uncomfortable. Whenever I feel those well-known symptoms coming on, I immediately run to the store to purchase an over the counter anti-flu remedy. I want to nip it in the bud. Try to avoid any discomfort. Twelve years? Can you imagine being ill for 12 years? Illness wears our bodies out, not only physically causing weakness, but also emotionally; sometimes causing frustration and irritability. She “had spent all that she had.” Plus, medical care is expensive. The Scripture tells us that “she had heard of Jesus.” I believe she had heard the good news about many who were touched by Jesus, and healed of different diseases, and she began to have hope.

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 (KJV)

Those words would have built her faith. It built mine when diagnosed with cancer in 1989. Faith that a touch from the Master could change situations. A touch from the Master could change circumstances. A touch from the Master could bring hope and heal a sick body. If you have been ill, you more than likely know that regardless of our faith, sickness makes us fearful. Trusting God for healing can be a challenge. Negative thoughts constantly bombard the mind.

Years ago during my illness, even though trusting God for healing, I would think thoughts such as:

• “Why is this happening to me?”
• “If this chemotherapy makes me feel so terrible, how can it work?”
• “Does God really heal?”

Between chemotherapy treatments, I feared my blood count levels would not stabilize. And my fears were not confirmed, because they did. I feared all my hair would fall off, but instead, it grew. I am sure the woman had fears. A touch from Jesus will calm our fears.

“… Be not afraid, only believe.” Mark 5:36 (KJV)

Daily, my prayer is, “Father, touch me today.” Our Heavenly Father waits to hear and to answer that prayer.

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 (KJV)

How do we receive a touch from the Master? Trust is the key. The woman with the issue of blood said in her heart: If I only touch the hem of His garment, I shall be healed. She believed all she needed was a touch from Jesus. She trusted and had confidence that if she just touched the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. She had confidence that when she touched Him, she would receive healing.

In response, Jesus touched her. In that moment, she left His presence a healed woman. In response, Jesus too touched me, and I left His presence a healed woman.

Do you need a touch from the Master today? Then lift your voice and say, “Jesus I need your touch.” Believe and have confidence that you will receive His powerful touch!