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Morning Thoughts |
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Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This morning, there is much going on in the world. Seemingly, there is so much going on that sometimes we wonder if we will ever manage to get everything done that we need to. Unfortunately, we sometimes think we do not have time to do the things that we have to do, thereby making excuse for not doing what we should. One of the things I learned when life began to "pick up" for me in going from a boy to a man is that there is always more time than we think there is, but we must be more efficient in our use of it. The reason sometimes that life seems so short on time is because we either waste what we have or inefficiently use what we have. By re-focusing our efforts, we not only will find time that we did not know was there, but we will find better ways (more efficient ways) to do the things we are currently doing. One of the things that life throws at us with all of its "time pits" and "black holes" is the thought that there is not enough time for things like going to church, reading our Bibles, or praying. There may even be times when we believe we are justified for neglecting these things for lack of time or otherwise. However, when we have fellowship with God during these sweet scenes, that should outweigh and supersede any reason for not doing them. While there are some individual applications to this verse above, the primary sense of it is in regards to a church application, and we will focus on that application this morning. This verse is part of the concluding remarks that the Spirit makes to the church at Laodicea. Probably the most problematic of all the seven churches of Asia, the Lord plainly declares what He is doing and what they should be doing. In our verse, the Lord is knocking. He is knocking on the door of the church. What He did then in that day for His church, I believe the same unchanging God does today for His church. He still stands and knocks on her door for a specific reason. When the church is met together for the express purpose of praising and adoring the matchless name of Jesus, there is a scene here that Solomon describes in rich tones and details throughout the book of Song of Solomon. As the husband and bride sing to one another throughout that lovely book, we see glimpses of the Saviour and His bride singing to one another during the seasons and sands of this life. This knocking is done - as mentioned above - for fellowship. There is no knocking involved for relationship, for He forges the relationship by His own sovereign pleasure, none can stay His hand, and not one effort in that regard by Him shall fail. On the other hand, how does He operate in fellowship? He operates differently, which is why Paul calls Him the Saviour of all men, but especially them that believe. (I Timothy 4:10) There is no distinction or respect of persons with God in relationship to His children. They are all His, loved of Him alike, and bought for identically by His Son Jesus Christ. Yet, He is special with them that believe, and the fellowship that He has with believers (worshippers in spirit and in truth) is a special one that comes from the sequence in this verse. When the church is met together, is that simple act all that is necessary for fellowship with God? No, as mentioned, the elements of spirit and truth must be upheld, and when we honour His precepts and commands as we should, that is akin to opening unto Him at His knock. There is something that He has great desire unto. On the night of His betrayal, He spoke of His great desire to eat the Passover with His disciples before He suffered. (Luke 22:15) He today desires to have fellowship with His people, which is the purpose of His knocking on the door of this church, and I believe our churches today. This fellowship is described in the familial way of supping together (sharing a meal). When a family sits down together to eat, the eating is just part of the experience. They are not only receiving sustenance (and thereby strength), but they are able to converse with one another, enjoy one another's presence, and receive soul-cheering sustenance as well. As the church receives the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God, she is receiving sustenance and thereby strength as well. As the songs are sung, there is sustenance found in the voice of the Bridegroom skipping along the hills and leaping among the mountains. As the prayers are uttered (both verbally and otherwise), there is great focus of thought on all the rich blessings that He has bestowed upon us. Finally, as the preaching is sounded, the rich table of bounty is prepared as food for our souls. During these times, we eat a meal (spiritually speaking) and thereby receive strength and encouragement for our daily walk and labour of love. Yet, that is not the fulness of the picture, for we are seated together with our familial friends and yokefellows in Christ. Furthermore, we are supping and conversing with our Saviour in our very midst and presence. He has come down and tabernacled for a little while with us by His Spirit. This is something, sadly, that not all of His family experiences while they live here. However, for the blessing of those that do, they are made to feel, for a little while, that sacred nearness and closeness of their Husband and Friend. What happens during these times can be both personal and collective. Whenever the Master comes, knocks, and sups with us, we see a great blessing in being engaged with friends in common service together and experience. Many times, He sups with the church, and all seem to be feeding together with expressions of their mutual faith and love. We see the love of God manifestly flowing from faith to faith and breast to breast. These times are the peak of that fellowship experience, and the church collectively is receiving that rich presence from on high. However, not every service is like that, nor is every meeting time such a time (sadly). There have been times when the fellowship took on a more personal note than a collective one. Perhaps the scene looked differently to different individuals that witnessed it. In the collective scene above, all present witness and record that God was there of a truth in a powerful way. Yet, there are times when some are made to rejoice and others are left out. Have you ever been to meeting and seen those around you shedding tears of joy and you yourself feeling cold and destitute? I have. Have you ever been to church and wondered what was wrong with everyone else for acting in such a way while you felt nothing? I have. During these times, we do not feel that collective blessing of fellowship, for our personal enjoyment of it is lacking. The reason that this verse can have a personal aspect to it is because of the language "if any man." When the Spirit terms it like this, that literally means "if one person." So, what happens if one person can be left out of the fellowship time by not opening while others rejoice? If the first be so, then it is equally possible that one person receive the blessing from the service. Have you ever felt like that entire service from the first song to the last detail of the sermon was just for you? Have you ever felt that every word, every line, every expression of thought was just what you needed? I have been there too. During these times, others may be rejoicing, but our mind basically says, "That is just what I needed, and if no one else received anything I am assured the Lord sent that from heaven to me." So what happens if we spend our time unwisely? Well, first of all, we may find reason not to go to church and thereby miss this great blessing. We may find reason not to pray without ceasing unto Him and thereby miss hearing His knock and voice. We may find reason not to read our Bibles and thereby not open unto His knock. Part of God's fellowship is that of rest and sweet repose (even though there is labour involved). We learn in that fellowship to cease from certain types of labour and pick up the plow of labour that is borne out of love. Yet, these scenes of rest that we have must have moments of stillness (to hear His voice), moments of effort (to open unto Him), and moments of activity (supping with Him). To do all of these things takes time, and no matter what our station in life may be, we all have time enough to walk with God daily, and especially at His house, assembled with His people. Maybe we walk into the church house in a rotten frame of mind. That may be the day that others go into the marriage supper with the Groom, and we stand without in darkness weeping bitterly over our condition. Maybe we walk into God's house and find moments of coldness in the efforts of others. That may be the day that He opens unto us personally and sups with us personally for a little while. May we be more zealously affected to listen for His beckoning, hearken unto His voice, and receive Him into our midst in the Spirit. By doing so, we will experience that blessed peace that passeth understanding and hear His voice say unto us, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Solomon 2:10)  In Hope, Bro Philip |