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John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (ESV)
I guess that most everyone is familiar with the William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) picture, "The Light of the World", painted after he became a Christian. If one is not, there are various links on the Internet. Of note is the fact that there are brambles over the door, showing that it has not been used for a long time, and there is no doorknob on the outside. It is a picture charged with imagery. Below the picture is a plaque attached which reads:
- Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 KJV)
The door represents the human heart, the centre of our conscious emotions and being. For me, I sense that Jesus is standing, listening, awaiting a reply.
I mention the above pre-conversion picture because I had a picture in my mind the other day. It was a house in the dark, viewed from outside, with a light shining out through the window upstairs. It transpired later on that the light radiating outwards was Jesus. I looked inside the downstairs window and the house was empty. I guess the owner was out! Maybe they had gone out shopping?
Then came the realization that it was my house, my life, and I was the one who was out of my own spiritual home, apparently enticed into some prodigal spend-fest focused on mammon!
I realized that it was time to come back. Jesus was waiting, in anticipation of my wising up and resetting my priorities.
As the above verse shows, when we allow Jesus in, He is always here with us, even when we spiritually go walkabout.
I believe that Jesus waits patiently by the door, ready to receive us home again. He is willing to take all that baggage off our shoulders, sit us down to have a chat, and give us a cup to sup of life-giving water to refresh our weary beings.
Maybe today is a good time to clear the doorway, take a load off, and have a chat?
Prayer: Lord, it is great to know that we can walk with You because You are always with us, even when we go walkabout. Please forgive us all those things that are not of Your choosing for us. Grant us release and freedom from all those sins and things that may have entangled our bodies and minds, so that we can be once more at home with You today, open to hear Your voice. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Good word Rod.
Nice to hear your voice on the Daily again, Your messages are always so clear.
Excellent and good for all to read and understand. Wonderful to see you name again. God Bless!
Very Good Roderick, for me my life is to busy and then I am to tired, but praise the “Lord” he is always there.
Rod, it has been a while since I have read a devotional from you.
Good to hear from you again. God Bless.
Rod – You are back! What a beautiful picture; this was the first time I have seen it.
What you had to say is so true. Thank you for sharing with us today.
Rod,
Great message, one we can all relate to. Glad you’re back. Keep writing.
Blessings.
Hi Rod: Just a note to let you know I really enjoyed your Devotional today! It seems there are even Christians getting caught up with the many deceptions that the enemy of our souls puts in our path. How we need to constantly keep our eyes on our Saviour and be in the Word every day. God Bless you and yours and please keep writing more inspired Devotionals.
(N.B. Canada)
Good Morning Rod,
You’re back on line, you’ve been in thoughts here from time to time. God never leaves us, He is FAITHFUL every day; it is us that must stay on HIS track. You know this but we are all human and go off His track now and then.
Our church, like so many is at a crossroads. Presbytery has helped and praying for God’s plan for this very old church in small town Ontario.
God is so Good! Lately, I’ve been on a “walkabout” of my own and had determined that today was the time to get back on track. Then this morning I read your devotional. I’m a firm believer in the Lord using others (or scripture or circumstances), to confirm what his Holy Spirit has put on our hearts. So, indeed, “today is a good time to clear the doorway, take a load off, and have a chat”.
Thank you for your timely message!
Dear Rod Marshall,
Thank you for two pictures.
1. the famous painting with Jesus knocking and waiting to be admitted into the life and soul of the one who is to open his door from the inside to let our Savior and Redeemer in,
2. and your picture with Jesus inside, but with you (or me or anyone) outside temporarily, and choosing to return to Jesus our Lord, our eternal Light. Does “he will come in and out and find pasture” (John 10;9b) fit? Or “Abide in Me…” (John 15:4a) Or both?
Keep writing.
Hi Rod
Welcome home. Glad you heard the voice that opened the door. It’s great to see you back! God bless.
Dear Rod!
Where would we go? To whom would we turn?
Jesus is the answer, He is faithful!
Thank God for the light eternal to guide us in our darkness!
Peace to you!
Hi Rod,
Your devotional really resonated with me, as it contained the same message as I hoped to convey through writing my first book.
I don’t recall seeing your devotionals before. I hope to see more of them.
Many Blessings.
Many Blessings, Rod.