Read: Revelation 3:14-22
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (v. 20)
Even the most congenial host would be dismayed at the thought of a guest who never left! But what if the guest is Jesus Christ himself? And what if he desires close and personal fellowship with us? He is truly the guest we want to stay with us forever!
Christ’s words to the church of Laodicea were not easy ones for the believers there to hear. He reproved them for being “lukewarm” in their response towards him (v. 16). They were spiritually self-satisfied, and did not even realize their true state of being “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (v. 17). Even as he reproved these believers, Jesus invited them to a closer, more intimate relationship. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (v. 20). While this verse is often used to invite unbelievers to repentance, it is actually a verse addressed to believers. Jesus is ready for us to show him hospitality!
We have seen how hospitality was practiced in both the Old and New Testaments and how it’s expected of God’s people. We extend it to both friends and enemies in obedience to God. Hospitality advances the gospel in numerous ways and will be rewarded someday as Christ shows his hospitality to us. Finally, we have the joy of being hospitable to Jesus himself as we open our hearts to him. —Laura N. Sweet
As you pray, think of your own response to the call for hospitality.
About the Author
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian schoolteacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
