Daily Devotionals

Devotional: August 4th

" Behold, I stand at the door and knock." - Revelation 3:20.

In manifold ways, Christ reveals unto men that he is willing and ready to enter into relations with them; and to those who have already some knowledge of him, he gives many a token that he is ready to enter into more intimate and hallowed relations with them. He does not wait, that men should seek him; he does not send word that he is waiting for them; he comes to them. He does not merely come: he stands and knocks.

The door is for the purpose of excluding enemies, and those whose visits are unwelcome; and you quickly rise when you hear the voice of a friend, and hasten to open the door that there may be no barrier between him and you. Another person might easily discover your feelings towards the one that knocks, by the response you make. Your countenance, your movements, all would show the feelings you entertain. Christ stands and knocks, and men are not aware of it. They are so busy hearkening to voices of earth, the world makes such a sound in their ears, or the slumber of unbelief is so heavy, that they hear not the Saviour’s knock. Blessed are they who cultivate the faculty of quickly detecting the foot-fall of Christ, and start up as soon as they hear his knock.

He knocks by his providence, as when he takes away your property, or your health, or your bosom friend; when he places you in new and trying circumstances with many and wide branching responsibilities; when he takes you away from loved scenes; when some mighty display of his power in the natural world, arrests your attention; - by his servants, moving them to address you in the language of exhortation or admonition; - by his word, with its gracious promises or tender upbraiding; - by a manifest work of grace in the heart of another.

I say unto you, hearken; hearken diligently, turning away from the vain babbling of the world ; and you shall hear the knock of Christ. You shall never be without an intimation from him, that he is nigh and ready to bless. Show hospitality to him in the world and he will receive you into everlasting habitations; receive him into your heart and he will give you an abundant entrance into the glorious mansions of his Father. How wise was it in that poor woman to share her supper with Elijah; famine was just then coming over the threshold to install himself at her board ; but was compelled to take an everlasting flight. " If any man hear my voice, and open unto me," says Christ, " I will come in and sup with him and he with me; I will come and make his earthly lot glad with my presence, and he shall come and participate with me the glory and felicity of the heavenly life."

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