He is a perfect gentleman—kind, endearing, and caring. His gestures are warm and inviting, never insistent; he invites gently, with an outstretched hand, waiting patiently for us to respond. His name is Jesus, and He invites you and me to open the door that only we can open.
Doors of Invitation
In the mid-1800s, William Holman Hunt created a captivating image of Jesus titled “The Light of the World.” It depicts Jesus standing outside a wooden door, knocking with one hand and holding a glowing lantern in the other. The artist deliberately omitted the exterior door handle, allowing it to be opened only from the inside. For years, we have associated that image with these passages from scripture:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“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 3:20)
Opening the Door
Throughout life, doors of invitation lead us deeper into the mystery of abiding in God’s love. During our faith journey, Jesus stands knocking, stirring a tug in our hearts and a yearning in our souls. Deep inside, we were created with an intense and innate longing for God. The only challenge is recognizing that the root of our longing is to long for God and to direct that desire to the One who stands at the door knocking.
Can you hear the Knock?
Perhaps you answered, “yes,” and you frequently hear the Lord knocking. Praise God for that! If that’s you, ask Him to highlight someone so that your words and actions can help to open the door of faith for them.
It’s easy to miss the knock in a world full of buzzing phones, constant notifications, the pull of endless scrolling, the lure of another episode or series, and the busyness that keeps us spinning. But when we step away from the noise and choose quiet, even for a few minutes, our hearts are free to listen.
Only then can we hear the knock, open the door of our hearts, and begin, rekindle, or deepen a relationship with the Lord. Relationships take desire, intentionality, commitment, and most importantly, love.
If you yearn to hear the knock at the door, I encourage you to turn off the noise, take a moment to be still, and listen. You may discover the gentle knock you’ve longed to hear. When you hear the knock, envision yourself behind the door of your heart. When you open the door, you’ll find that Jesus has been waiting all along. Ask the Lord to come in, sit with you, and simply be. There is no need to “do” anything, no agenda or reading material, no expectations. The only task is to be present to Jesus, who is always present to us.
The knock is gentle, but it is also certain—you are never forgotten at the door.
Reflection
- Where in your life might Jesus be knocking today?
One Response
When we open that door and let Him in, we need to decide to rely on Him completely….