Monday, February 7, 2022

              Depending upon your perspective, a ringing doorbell can be either a cause for excitement or a cause for anxiety.  There is a moment mixed with uncertainty and exhilaration as you anticipate what or who might be on the other side.  The doorbell can often ring at the most inopportune of times.  But a ringing doorbell signals that someone is trying to reach you.  We could draw the same conclusion for a ringing phone.  There are certainly times when God tries to get our attention as well.  And the Almighty has more ways at His disposal than ringing a bell. 
               Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “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.”  We could (and rightfully so) interpret that knock as a call to salvation—to come to know the Lord in a way that is real, personal, life-changing and eternity-altering.  But there are other occasions when the Lord may be knocking as well.  In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus sent seven letters to seven different churches through John trying to get the attention of these churches for seven different reasons.  Even now, God speaks through Scripture, prayer, worship and life’s circumstances.  We just need to listen and learn. 
            When you think of your life, has the Lord been knocking on your door recently?  Is there anything that God might be trying to do in your life or with your life?  Could the Lord be seeking some time with you—quality time that is not watered down or divided among a hundred other pursuits?  If you miss a ringing doorbell, it may not be a total loss.  But missing out on the Lord’s call or knock is quite different.  It can be hard to hear the Lord if we are surrounded by too much noise and too much chaos.  We often have to retreat to quieter and calmer places to hear His voice and sense His guidance.  The Bible is a perfect companion to take along with you on such times.  It would make sense that if God has a word for you that He would speak through His Word. 
            If you have not heard the Lord knocking lately, the reason could be your life is too filled with other things.  These things may be good and a blessing to you.  But there is no greater blessing than camping with the Lord on a consistent basis.  Silent prayer, journaling, prayer-walking and simply sitting in silence are good ways to hear God speak or guide your life.  One resource that many Christians find helpful is called the Daily Examen.  This tool has been around for centuries and serves as a way for us to place our lives before the Lord for examination and refreshment.  The Daily Examen involves five important steps... 1. Become aware of God’s presence in your life.  Remember and recognize that God is with you.  2. Review the day with gratitude.  Give thanks for the blessings and ways that God has provided for you.  Call out the good things that He has given to you.  3. Pay attention to your emotions.  Is there joy or sadness?  Is life just sort of blah?  Are you worried or fearful?  What emotions seem to color the day?  4. Choose one or two aspect(s) of the day and pray about it (them).  Ask for God’s grace and help for that matter.  5. Look toward tomorrow and what God has in store.  Ask God to keep your mind and heart open to Him. 
            Do not neglect the Lord’s knocking.  As you open your life to the Lord, you open yourself to the kind of life that He alone can offer you.  Jesus spoke of Himself as the Gate.  And He is.  He is the pathway to a life that has both purpose and passion, joy and serenity.  Seek the Lord today.  Have a great Monday!  Remember you can always share our worship at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2023

Categories

Tags

Acts Bible Communion Cross God's will God\'s will God Gospels Holy Spirit Holy Week Jesus Joseph Lent Peter Reformation Satan accountability action advent all saints allegory anger anxiety apologetics atonement awareness awe backsliding baptism beginning beloved betrayal bitterness blessing born again burden burnout calling care change character chistmas choices christian living christmas church history church circumcision comfort commitment community compassion complacency confession confidence consequences contentment control conversation cost courage creation death debt deception decisions deliverance denial dependence depth desire despair determination devotion direction discernment discipleship discouragement dishonesty disobedience distractions doctrine doubt dreams eagerness emotion encouragement end times endurance equality eternal life eternity evangelism evil example facing battles faithful living faithfulness faith family fatigue fear fellowship focus follow foreshadowing forgiveness foundation freedom friends fruit of the Spirit future generosity gifts giving glory goodness gospel grace grateful gratitude greed grit growth guidance guilt halloween happiness healing heart heaven help history holiday holiness home honesty hope humble humility identity impossible incarnation inspiration instruction integrity intentional jealousy journey joy judgment justice justification kindness kingdom knowing God lament law leadership lead lies life listening love martin luther maturity measure memorial memories mentoring mercy messiah minor prophets miracles missions mission mistakes motives mountaintops mourning music nation nativity nature new year new next generation obedience obstacles offering omniscience opportunity opposition overcoming parenting passion path patience peace pentecost persecution perseverence perspective plan poetry power praise prayer preparation presence pressure pride priorities process prodigal progress promise prophecy protection provision psalm purpose rebellion reconcile redemption refuge rejoice relationship remember remembrance renewal renown repentance resentment resolution restoration rest resurrection return revenge revival righteousness risk sacrifice sadness salt salvation sanctification scripture second coming seeking God self-control serenity sermon service shame sharing silence sincerity sin solitude sorrow sovereignty spiritual disciplines standard star stewardship storms strength struggle stubbornness stuck submission success suffering surrender talents talking temple temptation ten commandments testimony testing thankfulness thankful thanksgiving theology time tithes tough times traditions transfiguration trials trinity troubles trust truth veterans victory vision waiting warning weakness wisdom wise men witness wonder work worship