God's Word for Me Today
Friday, September 21, 2001
Focus: Our Mission With The World
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Gracious God, Thank You for You patience with me and with the world. We are so slow to receive Your Son, Jesus as Savior and Lord. So often we fall short of your expectations for us, even after we receive You into our Lives. Forgive me this day, O God, and restore to me that new life, that You have so freely given through Jesus. Open Your Word to me this day that I may know you better, and be better equipped to share You love and truth with others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Revelation 3:20-22
20“Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. 21I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Questions for Reflection
What is your response when unexpected visitors come to the door?
How do you picture heaven? Who is the first person you want to see there?
Questions for Exploration
Jesus wrote this letter to a church, through John the disciple. Notice that even though the folks receiving the words are already supposed to be Christians, it comes in the form of an invitation to do what? (3:20) KEY VERSE
What is the requirement for sitting on the throne with Jesus (in heaven)? (3:21
Questions for Understanding
Why does Jesus stand “at the door and knock”? Why doesn’t he just come into our lives with or without an invitation?
Read verse 21 again. What promise does it contain? What does it tell us about the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus in heaven?
Questions for Application
What “clutter” is keeping Jesus from coming into your life right now? What steps are you going to take to get rid of it and make room for Him?
Table fellowship is a sign of acceptance, friendship and love in the Bible. Who could you invite to your home as a way of sharing the hospitality of Jesus? When are you going to do it?
End of Week Check-up!
This brings us to the end of another week of prayer, study and application of God’s word to our lives. The goal is for us to know Jesus better and to be living for Him 24/7. So, what evidence is there in your life that you are closer to Jesus, and that you are living for Him 24/7?
In what ways have you shared the new life you’ve received from Jesus with others?
What is the most important thing you’ve learned through this week’s study?
Sharing the New Life of Jesus With the World!
Wow! We’ve already come to the end of our second week of reading God’s Word and applying it to our lives every day! Today’s Scripture points out the challenge we face as followers of Jesus. His words were written to a church, not to a group of non-believers. Jesus wanted to remind them that even though they thought they knew him, there’s more to following Him than calling yourself a Christian.
The picture Jesus uses is a wonderful analogy. He stands outside the door of our lives and “knocks.” Jesus calls us through His written Word, the Bible. He calls us through His Holy Spirit. He calls us through the voice of the church. He calls us through other people in our lives. He calls us through Christian media—television, music, radio. Jesus knocks, and knocks, and knocks. He waits for us to invite Him into our lives. He doesn’t say, “I stand at the door with a gun and if you don’t open up I’ll blast you. He doesn’t say, “Look I’m counting to three. Either you open the door or I’m leaving forever. Jesus says, “I’m here. I’m knocking. I have eternity. When you’re ready, I want to be your friend. When you’re ready I want you to know Me, as I already know you.
As we have read this week’s Scriptures, we find the obvious love of God not only for the few disciples that Jesus had already collected, but for the whole world. Jesus sent the disciples out to the whole world to make disciples. Now we have the opportunity to carry out the same commission in our lives. We have the opportunity to be Jesus’ representative in the world. What an opportunity! As we continue to look at our mission as new life Christian Ministries: Sharing the New Life of Jesus Christ with the world—one person at a time, through the remainder of September, remember that Jesus wants to use each one of us and all of us. Jesus knocks at your door and mind and says, “I love you AND I need you. I want to be your friend.” That friendship lasts throughout eternity and we can offer it in Jesus name to every other person we know or with whom we come into contact. Wow!
As we move to the weekend, when most of us will take in a high school football game, or go shopping, or just get away from the routine of the workaday world, remember: Jesus says, “I am standing at the door knocking. I want to spend the weekend with you! I want to spend eternity with you!” What better time than now, to take the offer seriously? What better time than now, to deepen our fellowship with Jesus, as friends? May this weekend be filled with worship, nurture and discipleship—but even more may it be filled with JESUS in our lives! God is at the door knocking. Let’s let him in! God’s blessings and have a great weekend!
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.