Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Revelation 3:19–20 NIV
The church at Laodicea was lukewarm, and Jesus was about to spew them out of his mouth. This was a church that was in grave danger of rejection by Jesus. But he had not yet given up on them. He told them how he felt about their condition, and what they needed to do to correct it. And it was a drastic course correction for this church.
Then Jesus made clear to them that he still loved them. He would not have bothered to try and correct them if he did not. His correction was with the hope that they would repent and return to him.
And then he told this church that he was standing at the door and knocking. He wanted to come in, to be a part of their life, and to share in their fellowship. But he was waiting for them to listen to his rebuke, repent, and invite him once again to be a part of their life as a church. To open the door and let him in.
This letter could have been written to many churches and individuals today. Have we grown cold? Are we just going through the motions of being believers or churches? Maybe even thinking that all is well?
If so, this letter to the church in Laodicea is for you. Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. Listen for Christ’s rebuke and discipline. Understand it as a sign of his love. Repent and open the door to let him back in. And once again, you can enjoy sweet fellowship with him.
