“Here I am, I stand at the door and knock,” says Jesus to the Laodiceans. That might sound like a heart-warming invitation, but it raises the chilling question, ‘How did Jesus end up on the outside of the door?’ The Laodiceans had shut Jesus out by their self-dependence. Their wealth enabled them to feel they had some control over their circumstances and, as a result, they lost a sense of their need for God. Jesus does not force his rule upon us. He only comes to those who need him. Self-dependence acts as a signal of repulsion to Jesus. Conversely though, a sense of need signals an invitation to Jesus to come and be Lord in our lives. Jesus is attracted by need. That was evident in his earthly ministry. He always loved to find people who knew that they needed God and who were willing to live dependently on God. The Laodiceans had lost the vital sense of need. And, as a result, they had inadvertently shut Jesus out of their lives. Cultivate need by aiming for things you cannot achieve on your own. You can live comfortably in this life without Jesus, but you cannot live meaningfully without him. You cannot become the person you were created to be without God’s work in you. The message to the Laodiceans is a hard message, but it is a loving message. Jesus hadn’t given up on them and he hasn’t given up on any of us. We all shut Jesus out of our lives at times. We all fall into a state of spiritual slumber at times. But Jesus comes to awaken us.
Ask Jesus to awaken your heart to his purposes for you and your need for him.
Read Revelation 3:19-22.
