# 37 2021 Dev. Revelation 3:20. Refined Gold! Read Chapter 3:14-22 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelations 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.”
Chapter 3 continues with Jesus’ exhortation to the Seven Churches. Again, seven is a complete number that means that each type of church is addressed throughout all of history. Jesus is addressing us today as well.
Laodicea was a wealthy city in Roman times, it was a banking center, it had a medical school, a large textile industry and produced the material for a well known eye-salve. Further, it was located on a major trade route. It does not appear that the church was persecuted.
Jesus address Laodicea: “These are the words of the Amen, the one true God, the faithful and the true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” (The Alpha and the Omega) “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot” Be one or the other as it is “I am about to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth.” “I am about to” means there is still opportunity to repent. They were complacent, rich, self sufficient, not in need of anything by their way of thinking. This is starting to sound familiar, like many churches today in varying degrees.
But no, you are blind, poor and naked. “I council you to buy from me gold refined in the fire.” Come and buy without money or cost as Scriptures metaphorically described the gift of Salvation. Receive white clothes (righteousness) compared to the black cloth they produced and anoint your eyes with spiritual salve, so you may see. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. After this, Jesus makes a personal appeal: “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.” This is not an eschatological statement, referring to the great feast of the lamb. No, this is an intimate appeal to re-establish Jesus’ relationship with the church. Eating together was the ultimate fellowship then and still is in many cultures today. There is also a promise: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.” Yes, as fantastic as that may sound, we will reign together with Christ in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Jesus is still knocking on our doors and on the door of the church, inviting us to re-evaluate how we do church and how we prioritize our lives. I think that in this passage Jesus is speaking directly to us and to the church today. There is still time, thanks be to God!
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