11-17-2009 Knock-Knock!

Knock – Knock!   November 17, 2009 ~Denise Grant   "Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me."  Revelation 3:20 TLB            Saturday was a beautiful day. It had brought some much-desired relief from all the rain we had been having. Heat from a once-hidden sun had produced a definite shorts and T-shirt day. My guys took advantage of the weather outside to do some yard work, while I sequestered myself inside.      With the washing machine, clothes dryer and vacuum cleaner, all humming in blessed harmony with my favorite Christian CD, I failed to hear the doorbell ring. Apparently, I also missed the intense knocking my youngest son performed to summon me outside.      It seems Ty had been eyeing a dead pine tree from his bedroom window and had restlessly been anticipating the thrill of cutting it down.       Above the intermittent sounds of household machines, although I missed his knocking, I had indeed heard the chainsaw, and what my son did not know is that I had secretly videoed him from the dining room window.                     Perhaps there is so much background "noise" in your life you cannot hear God knocking on your hearts' door. Could it be – mixed between Sunday school lessons, the Pastor's message, morning devotionals, or His Word shared through song – the knocking has simply become too faint? Or maybe you have failed to respond due to the clogged arteries of a hardened heart?        Experiencing less soul fulfillment these days? Are you so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that you don't notice Christ standing at your heart's door?  Worldly pleasures such as; material possessions, money, power, prestige and security - can be so very dangerous – mostly because their temporary satisfaction makes us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction.        If you find yourself feeling unmoved in church, indifferent to your Pastor's message, unsympathetic to a friend's need, uninterested in the Bible, or unresponsive to God - you clearly could have begun to shut God out of your life – indeed a cause for worry. We must persistently keep our heart's door wide open, so we need never be concerned about missing His knock.        Jesus longs to have fellowship with you. He is both patient and persistent in trying to get through, yet He can never be accused of breaking and entering.  He gives each and every one of us the right to decide whether or not to open our lives to Him.        Not just opening the door to Christ – but sincerely inviting Him to come in - is your only hope of lasting fulfillment and eternal life. "I will let every one who conquers sit beside me on my throne, just as I took my place with my Father on his throne when I had conquered." Revelation 3:21        Will you allow the Spirit to soften the hardened parts of your heart today?     Abba Father,        Today, I open the door and invite You in to be a part of my life. Cause me to stay forever mindful of times my life's door silently slips closed. Help me maintain a wide open heart, so I never miss the times You come knocking.  In Jesus' name, Amen. Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14