Why Knock?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matt. 7:9)

This reassuring verse encourages us to give our needs and cares to the Lord, trusting Him to provide for us. However, it’s familiar enough that, even as we gain reassurance that our God cares for us and will answer our requests, we tend to read it without much thought.

A closer look reveals that in this well-known verse, Jesus gave us the key to abundant life.

As we move from asking to knocking, the verbs become more focused, more intentional, and more intimate.

Asking is the more casual of the three. Asking is a request in passing. We desire something so we ask.

Many verses in the Bible speak on asking. We’re told in Matthew 21:22 that if we believe, we will receive whatever things we ask in prayer.

A balancing truth is found in James 4:3, where we learn that we sometimes don’t receive because we ask amiss, that we “may spend it on our own pleasures.”

Seeking is more purposeful and focused. It’s more intentional and implies an ongoing search. It usually involves a more important, valuable, or more needful pursuit.

Jesus told a crowd who was following Him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (Jn. 6:26-27)

Jesus’ words reveal that we also sometimes seek with the self-centered motives, but seeking is more than asking. Seeking involves effort, or laboring, and we should seek things that have eternal value rather than focusing on temporal desires.

We are to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33), and “things which are above, where Christ is” (Col. 3:1). Furthermore, if we seek the Lord, we will “not lack any good thing” (Ps. 34:10).

Seeking involves a life-focus that determines our goals and direction in life. Scripture encourages us to seek the Lord, His kingdom and His righteousness.

Knocking implies seeking a person and has the potential of fellowship, even intimacy. We knock with an expectation of greeting someone, of being invited in, and often with the hope of fellowship.

Knocking is also mentioned in Revelation 3:20-21 where Jesus knocks on our door to dine with us. He knocks for the purpose of intimate fellowship. And more. He desires that we sit with him on the throne, reigning with Him as He sits with His Father!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:20-22).

Knocking is a picture of us desiring, and making time (priority) for fellowship, for pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus.

In Jesus’ final minutes with His disciples He prayed to His Father. In the prayer, He painted a picture of being so close, so intimate, that we will be one with Him and perfect in Him–even as He is one with His Father. He wants to be so close with Him that we will behold his glory and will be confident in His love (Jn. 17:20-26).

If we ask, we will receive–if we aren’t asking for our pleasures. If we seek, we will find–especially if we are seeking eternal things. If we knock, we can know our Lord intimately and will be one with Him.

God desires the intimate fellowship of friends sharing life across the table. He wants to be best friends with you and with me. He’s standing at the door knocking—even before we knock.

Are you content with an asking relationship, or are you available to be an intimate friend?

Will you open the door to when Jesus knocks? Indeed, will you reach out and knock on His door to gain true, abundant life of intimate fellowship?

“I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me” (Prov. 8:17). “You who seek God, your hearts shall live” (Ps. 69:32).

Clean out Clutter to Commune with God

I’m late posting my blog today because I had another priority. The burn pile needed to be dealt with in the cool of the day. Consequently, I spent my morning picking up sticks and burning a big pile that’s accumulated for months.

A spring of frequent high winds has repeatedly littered the yard with limbs, leading to a growing burn pile that couldn’t be burned because of strong winds and frequent rains. The pile is toward the back of the yard and not easily visible from the road, but I knew it was there, cluttering the yard.

This morning, the ground and grass were wet from recent rains, the wind weren’t blowing, and the morning temperature was comfortable. It was the perfect time to build a big bonfire without fear of starting a forest fire.

I’m grateful to clean up the yard and get rid of the trash. I’m also blessed with how the task fits in with and are altering my blog.

Last week, I wrote about the nature of the relationship the Lord desires to have with us, one of intimacy and communion, of sharing time and life on a daily basis. He promised His all to us* and gave His life to make such intimacy possible. (*Learn more about that promise/covenant and the nature of the relationship in The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood.)

Many people desire that kind of relationship, but don’t know how to make it happen. As I cleared the yard of any remaining sticks and burned them all, I was aware that limbs and sticks don’t belong on the lawn.

Knowing the pile from the last few months was hidden in the corner of the yard blocked my full enjoyment of the rest of the yard. I was affected by it even though I knew others didn’t see it.

As I picked up the more recent limbs from the grass, I saw an anology of our relationship with the Lord.

We may know the Lord, love Him, and desire an intimate relationship with the Lord, but just can’t seem to get there, as if something it blocking it—just as limbs cluttered on the ground or the pile in the back block my full enjoyment of the yard.

Indeed, it’s no surprise that sin blocks communion with the Lord. It doesn’t matter whether the sin is big and lying by the road for all to see, or if it’s small and part of a pile back in a corner where nobody will know it’s there, sin blocks clear relationships.

The problem is that we become comfortable with some sins and are blind to it. We can embrace sin without realizing it. I’d like to mention just a few basic sins that can keep us from having an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Pride

Pride, such as thinking, “I’m the greatest” and “look what I can do,” focuses on self and blocks any relationship. It harms our fellowship with God because it fails to acknowledge God and show gratefulness for His part in making us who we are

It’s also prideful to say, “I’m no good,” or “I can’t do anything right.” That attitude, just like the one above, sees Self as the focus and the source, with no acknowledgment of God.

Likewise,it is prideful to consistently want things “my” way or to refuse to listen to those “I” don’t agree with. Jesus said to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23). When we elevate ourselves or focus on our Self, rather than denying ourselves, it creates a block in our fellowship with the Lord.

Disobedience

Jesus is Lord, The concept of lord becomes almost a cliché in church circles today because we don’t have kings and lords. We hear it so much that we don’t often stop to think about what it means. If He is Lord, that means He is boss. Furthermore, it means that everybody is supposed to obey. Not only is He Lord, He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Lord over all.(Rev. 19:16)

When we don’t obey, we deny His power and authority in our lives. Is it any wonder disobedience creates a block in fellowship? If you are frustrated in your desire to be closer to God, ask Him to show you any area where you have disobeyed Him.

Idolatry

Idolatry includes much more than bowing down to a carved statue. It is choosing something else above God. It could be a person or persons, material things, pleasure, power, success, or more. Anything we place more importance on than God could become an idol without us realizing it.

History, as recorded in the Bible and in secular records, confirms that when God’s people choose to serve idols, there are always negative consequences, ranging from plagues, to being conquered, to death by calamity. When Moses was on the mountain and Israel made the golden calf, God would have destroyed the people and raised a nation through Moses if Moses had not intervened.

In a culture where it is not popular to honor God, it’s easy to follow the crowd into any of various forms of idolatry. We need to guard ourselves, because Jesus said we cannot follow God and mammon, for we will love the one and hate the other (Mt. 6:24).

If we are divided in our loyalty, not only will we find fellowship with God impossible, but we are on a slippery slope that could lead to destruction.

(This is beside the point of the blog, but I am concerned for our nation and the world because of the prevalence of rejecting God and choosing instead to worship at the idol of “moral freedom”. The Lord is not mocked. There will be consequences if we do not repent.)

Unbelief

Unbelief can range from lack of saving faith in Jesus Christ, to not truly believing the Lords wants intimate fellowship with us, to not believing He can use us for His glory. When we don’t believe Jesus is God’s Son, don’t believe what He says, or that He has the power and authority to work through us, it is denial of Him

How can we have true fellowship when we don’t receive for who He is? If you find yourself in this category, be like the father whose son need healing, cry out to God, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

God’s love is perfect. While we were in the pit of sin, He gave His life so that we could enjoy rich fellowship. I don’t believe it blocks Him unless we are set in our sin, but it hinders us even when we have stray limbs littering our heart. We can’t fully enjoy Him while holding things that deny Him or place other things as a higher priority in our lives.

Do you want to commune with the Lord, but it’s not happening?

If that’s you, seek the Lord. Ask Him to shine the spotlight on the lawn of your heart, to show you any clutter that needs to be cleaned up.

I’m grateful for the perfect weather to clean up the yard and get rid of the mess. It is freeing to have a lawn freed of accumulated clutter..

But it’s nothing compared to the freedom of having a clean heart and the joy of having rich fellowship with the Lord.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, nd He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6-7).

The Rendezvous Time is Set

Once Robert and I noticed each other, we couldn’t find enough hours in a day to share life.

We ate all our meals together in the college cafeteria, studied together at the library, and held hands as we walked around the campus. When 10:00 curfew confined us to separate dorms, I sat in the tiny booth down the hall and talked on the phone with him until midnight.

I had never known anyone with such similar values, dreams, and interests. We longed to know each other better and to share life. We made a way to be together every chance we got.

Recently, while studying John, I read about Jewish leaders seeking to heal Jesus because He broke the laws of the Sabbath. The passage led me to look more closely God’s guidelines for the Sabbath. My findings reminded me of our dating days.

First, in brief summary, some truths from Scripture:

God initiated the Sabbath as a day of rest from all work. He blessed it and sanctified it—set it apart to be different from other days. (Gen. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:8-10)
The Sabbath is a memorial. It reminds us that God sanctifies us. Those who profane it are to be put to death (31:13-14).
When a nation honors the Sabbath, the nation is honored and God is lifted up
Not honoring the Sabbath, leads to destruction. (Jer. 17:21-27).
Business and commerce as usual breaks the Sabbath (Jer. 17:21-27, Neh. 13:15-19).
God desires that we cease from work and enjoy rest. Disobedience robs us of rest (Heb. 4:1, 4-11).

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mt. 12:8, Mk, 2:28).
It’s made for man. Man is not made for the Sabbath ((Mt. 12:8).
It’s not set aside for our own pleasure, is God’s holy day and should be honored by delighting in the Lord. (Is 58:13-14).
It’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath, not evil. (Mk. 3:4).
It’s lawful to give life on the Sabbath, not death. (Mk 3:4)
We are to be diligent to rest from our work (Heb. 4:11).
Rest helps keep us from falling (Heb 4:11).

There is more, but this is enough to show that honoring the Sabbath day is much more important to God than it has become to us as a nation. Indeed, more than it has become to us as His body.

Furthermore, we are missing blessings and reaping destruction because we have ceased to set the day apart as different from other days of the week.

However, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their list of laws designating what they couldn’t do because it would be working on the Sabbath. If we follow Jesus, rules of what to do and what not to do isn’t the answer.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, and He said it was made for man. So what does that mean? Why is a day set aside? What’s God’s purpose for the Sabbath? I’m sure it isn’t exhaustive, but I have several thoughts in answer.

First, the Sabbath is a sign, a memorial, a reminder to help us remember that our sanctification comes from God. Without a regular reminder, we get so tangled up in life’s busy pursuits that we forget God and our need for him. We need a reminder, so the Lord established it for us.
Second, we need regular rest from busyness. In fact, we need it to maintain health and perform our best. If we don’t schedule it, we won’t take it, so the Lord mandated it into our schedule—and then stressed how important it is.
While the particular work we can or can’t do on the Sabbath isn’t mandated, the work that Jesus did involved ministry and service, not personal gain.
Fourth, and I believe most important, we need time, intimate time, to fellowship with our Lord, to get to know Him more deeply and delight in Him.

If we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength, would we not delight to be with Him every chance we get? Just like Robert and I did during our dating years?

Our love for each other—imperfect though it was—drew us together. We delighted in being together and learning more about each other. We joyed in sharing life in all its ups and downs.

Our loving heavenly Father set aside a day because He knew our needs, that our schedules would be full, and our love lacking. His love is pure. He delights in us, wants to share life, and wants us to prosper rather than face destruction.

As I look at our nation and our world, I think it’s time to consider our ways and to find time to share life with our Maker.

The rendezvous time is set. And our Lord is waiting.

What Are You Seeking?

It belonged in the closet, just above eye level, but it wasn’t there. I looked under all around but didn’t see it. I looked above and below its customary spot, but couldn’t find it. My search was in vain.

Not long afterward, Robert asked me if, during my search, I saw something that he needed.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied, but added, “But I wasn’t looking for it, so it may have been there, and I looked right over it.”

The item he needed was in the closet. In fact, it was clearly visable, but I hadn’t seen it because I wasn’t looking for it.

I recalled that scenario a couple of days later when I read John 1:35-40. John the Baptist was talking with a couple of his disciples, Andrew and John, when he saw Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Andrew and John left John the Baptist and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you seek?’ He could have said, “What do you want?” Why did He ask what they were looking for, rather than just greeting them?

My closet search taught me that if we aren’t looking for something, we are likely not to see it, even if it’s right in front of us. If that is so, shy did Jesus ask that question, and what were Andrew and John looking for?

They were looking for the Lamb of God. But, if that’s the case, their response to Jesus’ question is rather strange. Rather than answer what they were looking for, they asked Him a question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Where are you staying?” Were they really looking for where Jesus was staying?

Yes. And no. It probably didn’t matter where Jesus was staying. Their question was probably a way of saying, “There are a lot of people around here. Where can we visit without interruption? We’d like to get to know you better. Can we go to your place?”

Their question reveals hearts that were looking for the Messiah, the Anointed One. Knowing about Him was not enough. They wanted to spend time with Him, to get to know Him.

As I read those verses, God asked me, “What are you looking for?”

I want to follow Jesus. Furthermore, for basically all my life, I’ve heard that we are to love God with our whole hearts (Matt. 22:37-38) and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). I know that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock, it will be opened (Matt. 7:7-8).

Consequently, if asked if I am seeking Him, my immediate answer is, “Yes,”—and I mean it. But, when I read this, I realized that I’m not always asking, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

“Can I come to Your place to get to know You better?”

Recently, I’ve been convicted about this same question—though asked in a different way. In response, I’ve set aside more time and been more purposeful in my effort to seek God and know Him better.

However, when my schedule presses in, I’m distracted by my to-do list and am tempted to cut my time short. During those times, it’s easy to read the Word while thinking about something else, or to shorten prayer time or get sidetracked.

Am I asking, “Where are you staying?” or is it more like, “Can I go now? Have I done enough?”–as if I’m checking a duty off my list.

Ouch. During our time with the Lord, the degree which we allow ourselves to wander (in mind or body) from fellowship with Him is an indication of the degree in which we’re truly seeking Him.

Like my search in the closet, we tend to find the thing we’re looking for. If we’re asking and not receiving, it may be because we’re asking for one thing while seeking another.

Jesus’ question is relevant for me today as much as it was when He began His ministry. After all, He’s still looking for disciples, for people who will follow Him and will fellowship with Him.

The Lord wants to fellowship with us and desires intimacy. He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). We are the ones with other priorities in life.

The invitation is sent and the table is set, but the question remains, “What are you seeking?”

Breaking a Barrier to Intimacy with the Lord

“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matt. 5:23-24).

People often get upset or bent out of shape for no apparent reason, and it’s often difficult to approach them to clear things up.

The more troubled or difficult the relationship is, the easier it is to leave things along and just hope and pray that they get better. That is especially true if you don’t see that person often.

But there is a major problem with that approach to resolving a problem. These verses tell us that if someone else has something against us, our relationship with the Lord is hampered until we go to that other person and be reconciled.

Maybe the other relationship isn’t important, but what about your relationship with God? Are you willing to have that blocked because of a misunderstanding with a co-worker, friend, or family member?

It can be very difficult to say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong; will you forgive me?”. However, when that relationship was broken, your relationship with God was broken too.

Fellowship with God will not be restored until you reconcile the broken earthly relationship.

It’s worth the effort.

Before going to make things right, be sure to:

recognize your own fault–that is. take the log out of your own eye,
ask the Lord to prepare the way before you,
prepare ahead of time what you will say, being sure to not cast blame on the other person or defend yourself,
go in the spirit of love, seeking reconciliation–not “justice” for or confession from the other person.

Even if you are not fully reconciled with the person, if you go in humility and the spirit of love, you will find that fellowship with the Lord will be restored. Furthermore, in time the earthly relationship might turn around.

I’ve had to go way out of my way to reconcile with people I rarely interacted with but who had ought against me–and some of those times I felt I was innocent of wrong-doing. Every time, it’s released my relationship with the Lord to a new level of intimacy.

It’s worth the effort. Jesus wants to dine with us and us with Him in an intimate setting. He’s knocking and waiting on us (Rev. 3:20-21).

Have you experienced renewed intimacy with the Lord when you’ve left your gift at the alter to go and be reconciled with someone?

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships