The Knock That Changes Everything

“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 (NIV)

No matter what I’ve done, Jesus wants me!

Zacchaeus’ appearance made him feel insecure and lonely and inferior. Zacchaeus’ accusers made him feel bitter and resentful. But Zacchaeus’ sins made him feel guilty and ashamed.

After stopping and noticing Zacchaeus and calling him by name, Jesus did the most shocking thing of all: He invited himself to the home of the worst guy in the city of Jericho.

Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would be filled with guilt and shame and would never think himself worthy enough to have Jesus in his home.

And still, the Bible says, “When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5 NCV).

Because I'm a human being, I've done things that I'm ashamed of. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV).

But Jesus is more interested in changing me than condemning me. He said he didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).

No matter what I've done, who I’ve done it with, or how long I’ve done it, it matters more what direction my feet are headed today.

In going to Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus was essentially telling him, “No matter what you’ve done, Zacchaeus, I want you. I want to go to your house and have dinner. I want to fellowship with you. I want to have a relationship with you.”

God is saying that to me as well. No matter how much I've blown it, the starting point of salvation is when I swallow my pride and admit I need God’s help.

Sure, I've made mistakes along the way. But I haven’t lost one cent of my value to my Creator.

Jesus wants a relationship with me. He wants to come to my house and have dinner. He’s standing at the door of my life and knocking. He says, “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 NIV). 

In summary:

Regardless of past mistakes or feelings of shame, Jesus actively seeks a personal relationship with every individual, just as He did by inviting Himself to the home of the outcast Zacchaeus. It illustrates that while human nature is prone to sin and insecurity, God’s priority is transformation and fellowship rather than condemnation, as our inherent value to the Creator remains unchanged. Ultimately, the starting point of spiritual renewal is found in swallowing one's pride to open the door to Jesus, who stands ready to offer grace and connection to anyone who welcomes Him.

Bottom Line:

This is unconditional belonging. My past actions or personal insecurities do not diminish my value to God. He isn't waiting for me to get my life in order before He approaches me; instead, He is already "knocking," actively seeking a personal relationship and offering a fresh start based on grace rather than judgment.

Next step:

Instead of over-analyzing my past mistakes or trying to "fix" myself to be worthy, set aside 10–15 minutes of quiet time  to simply acknowledge my need.

Be Honest: Like Zacchaeus coming down from the tree, acknowledge the areas where you feel "guilty, ashamed, or inferior."

The "Dinner" Mindset: Imagine the invitation mentioned in Revelation 3:20. If Jesus were sitting across the table from you right now, what is the one thing I’ve been hesitant to tell Him?

Release the Pride: The passage notes that the starting point is swallowing pride. Admit that I don't have all the answers—whether that’s regarding my spiritual life, my business, or my personal peace.

How to Invest for Eternity

In 1 Timothy 6:18-19 it says, “They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” (NLT)

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life” (NLT).

We are going to enjoy forever what we invest in heaven, and we invest in heaven every time we use our money for good. 

So what’s the best way to do that? Any financial advisor will tell you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you put your money into different funds for a balanced portfolio.

God has given different “funds'' that we can invest in for eternity. Let’s look at each of the five ways. These funds are proven. They have a track record. They’re protected. They are risk-free. And they yield enormous dividends.

1. God’s Growth Fund. This is any time you invest in something that is going to grow your character. Proverbs 10:16 says, “The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin” (NLT).

So how do you enhance your life with your money? You use it to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. When you use money to develop your skills and become mature, you are investing in eternity.

2. God’s Mutual Fund. This is every time you use money to encourage fellowship and build relationships with other believers. Romans 12:13 says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (NLT).

Why does God want you to use some of your money to show love to other believers? There are three reasons. First, it proves that you’re in God’s family. Second, it creates unity. And, third, it’s a witness to unbelievers.

3. God’s Service Fund. This is when you invest in eternity by using money to serve others. God wants you to take some of your money and use it to help people who are in need. Proverbs 11:24 says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (The Message). In other words, the more you help others, the more God blesses you. Why? Because God is a giver. He is generous, and he wants you to become like him.

And you’ll find yourself becoming more and more like God as you invest in your character, other believers, and people in need.

4. God’s Global Fund. This is when you use your money to share the Good News and bring people to Jesus. Luke 16:9 says, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (NIV).

A lot of people have no idea what this verse means. Is it saying that you can buy friends? Not at all. It means that God wants you to invest in things that help get people into heaven so that when you get to heaven, they will welcome you there.

It’s the greatest investment of your life. Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?

5. God’s Treasury Fund. When you give money to God as an act of worship, that’s called the Treasury Fund. God makes a promise in Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines” (TLB). “The first part of all your income” is your tithe—the 10 percent of your earnings that you give to God through your church.

You can’t really give God anything because he already owns it all. But think about the allowance you may have received as a child. If you went out and bought a birthday present for your mom, you really were using her money. Does that mean she liked the gift any less? No—because she cared more about the thought and the love behind the gift. God feels the same way about your giving.

The Bible says that wherever your treasure is, your heart will also be there. If what’s most important to you are the things of this Earth, then every day you are moving further away from your treasure. Because every day you are here on Earth, you’ve got one less day to invest in eternity. You’re moving further and further away from the things you’re going to leave behind.

But if you’re investing in God’s funds and using your money to serve God’s purposes, then you’re storing up treasure in heaven every day. You’re getting closer and closer to your treasure instead of further and further away.

Missionary Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Are you ready to start using your money to invest in eternity? You can start by praying this prayer: 

“Dear God, forgive me for spending my money on things that aren’t going to last. I want to start investing in heaven instead. Today I commit to using my money to grow in spiritual strength, wisdom, and knowledge, and become all that you want me to be. Help me to see ways that I can use what you have given me to strengthen relationships and to show love to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

“I want to invest in eternity by using my money to serve others. I want to learn to be generous and to be a blessing to others. And I want to use my money to bring people to you; I want people to be in heaven because I gave. And, Father, I want to show where my treasure is by investing in eternity through my gifts and offerings to you; I want to honor you by giving you the first part of all my income.

“I want to give up any lust for money so that you, God Almighty, will become my treasure. Help me to remember that I’m not a fool to give up what I cannot keep to gain what I cannot lose. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.” 

God Can Restore Me After I Sin

In Jeremiah 15:19 I read, “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.” (NLT)

When I became a believer in Christ, I was born again into God’s family, and I cannot be unborn. Although my fellowship with God can be damaged by sin, the relationship is still there. I’m only one step away from returning.

So, what should I do when I sin? One word: Return! Come back to Christ. It’s that simple.

Isaiah 1:18 says, “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow” (TLB).

On the night Jesus was arrested, his disciple Peter denied knowing and following Jesus three times. If ever there were a sin you’d think was unforgivable, it would be that! But Jesus knew Peter would deny him, and he knew Peter would come back to him. In fact, before it even happened, Jesus said to Peter in the Upper Room, “I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers” (Luke 22:32 TLB).

Jesus knew Peter’s ministry would be more effective after his denial than it was before. And, sure enough, it was! Peter wrote the two books of the Bible that we call 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Then he shared his memoirs with a relative, and that’s the gospel of Mark.

I may think God has forgotten me, but he hasn’t. The Good Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one. He knows how I’ve fallen away. Maybe it happened in one giant step, or perhaps it was a series of small, tiny steps. Whatever it was, I’m not as close to Christ as I used to be.

I need to pray what David prayed when he came back to God after committing adultery. He said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12 NLT). David did not have to pray, “God, restore to me my salvation,” because he hadn’t lost his salvation. He had lost the joy.

Come home to Christ today and restore the joy.

In summary, God tells me that If I return to him, he will restore me so I can continue to serve him. When I became a believer in Christ, I was born again into God’s family, and I cannot be unborn. Although my fellowship with God can be damaged by sin, the relationship is still there. I’m only one step away from returning. So, return, and Come back to Christ. It’s that simple. I may think God has forgotten me, but he hasn’t. The Good Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one. He knows how I’ve fallen away and not as close to Christ as I used to be. Pray what David prayed when he came back to God, He said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” He didn’t pray because he hadn’t lost his salvation. Rather he prayed that he had lost the joy. I can come home to Christ and restore the joy.

I can restore my job by returning to him. Sin puts up a boundary to a close relationship with God. I need to confess and restore my relationship and joy. God will help to rearrange my priorities. I am to influence others and not be influenced by them. In prayer I can reveal my deepest thoughts to God. God expects me to trust him, no matter what. I am here to influence others for God. Father, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my future job role and to be able to lead a new study / small group. I want to return to joy from the salvation you have provided me and to do what it is you have planned for me. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Developing A Safety Net

In review of 1 Peter 3:8 it says, “And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.”

Bottom Line:

We need others in our lives to share in the good and in the bad times.

What this means to me:

Today’s verse reminds me that I need strong committed relationships in my life. The relationships should be life family, with us showing sympathy toward each other and being loving with tender hearts and humble minds.

Nobody should have to face difficult situations alone. Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable; and each of us will face them (regardless of whether we are his disciples or not.) But we don’t need to go through them alone. We need God’s safety net to help hold us up through the difficult times.

So what is God’s safety net? I’m learning that this safety net is a group of other believers, a handful of people who are really committed to me and my well being. This kind of group is called a community. As I understand it, this is God’s plan for community: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26a NIV). Community is God’s answer to despair.

Romans 12:15 expresses a similar idea: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Now the first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it’s often easy to join in on the party. However, when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult.

But, it doesn’t need to be complex. When going through a crisis, advice is not what you always need; many time you just want somebody to be there to sit with you, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you.

As Paul tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11a). Interestingly enough, encouraging someone else doesn’t always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement I can give is just sitting in silence, waiting and maybe even weeping with a friend.

So the question today is, do I have a safety net, a group of fellow Christians I know I can count on in life’s toughest times? Today my answer is “yes” I have some fellow Christians I know who I can probably count on, however, I have not drawn that close to them.  

I’m going to go out and begin building those closer friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable, and it would be foolish for me to go into them unprepared.

Why Satan Loves A Detached Believer

In review of Hebrews 3:13 it says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Bottom Line:

Encourage each other every day, before you can be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

What this means to me:

I am to have others in my life, who can encourage and warn me about sin, as sin can be deceitful and harden me against God.

Having a church family will help keep me from backsliding. I am certainly not immune to temptation. Given the right situation, I’m capable of any sin. The good news is that God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.

The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13 NIV). “Mind your own business” is not really a Christian phrase!

I am called and commanded to be involved in other’s lives. If I know someone who is wavering or having problem, it would be my responsibility to go after him and bring him back into the fellowship.

James tells us, “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back” (James 5:19 MSG).

A local church can also provide the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives this shepherd leader the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock (Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7).

I am told, “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God” (Hebrews 13:17b NLT, second edition).

Given all of this, Satan loves a detached believer, one who is unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God’s family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics.

The warning from this verse today is to not let him get a foothold. I need to join and stay connected to a church family.

As I reflect on this verse today, It reminds me that I am to be in close contact with other believers, so that I can encourage others and they can encourage me. I need this daily because sin can be very deceitful and cause me to be hardened against God. Having other believers around me will help me and my thinking patterns. Others can help me realize when my thought patterns and behaviors start to get off-track. I think this verse emphasizes “Today”, because I can easily let fellowship slip in the day-to-day events of life.  It doesn’t take long for isolation to make my mind begin to drift. I thank you God for this great reminder that I need other close Christians that I can encourage and be encouraged by. We need each other to make sure we aren’t going astray. Today, I should consider how I can better get connected to others in the church community I’ve been regularly attending. Once a week on Thursday nights may not be enough.  Also I should consider reaching out to others via phone, text, or email from before I moved as they can also be a source of believers that I can interact with still.  Distance may not be that big of a problem for continuing fellowship.

Its Not Enough To Just Believe, I Need To Belong

In review of Romans 12:5 it says, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Bottom Line:

Each of us makes up part of the body of Christ, we are not our own, but joined to others as part of one body.

What this means to me:

Though I am only one of many, I am to join together with others to form one body, because I am to be joined to others as different parts of one body.

God’s Word tells me that I am called to belong, not just believe.

I was created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and I cannot fulfill God’s purposes by myself. The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship.

The Bible has lots of references that indicate that I am put together, joined together, built together, a member together, an heir together, fitted together, held together, and will be caught up together (1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:21-22, 3:6, 4:16; Colossians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Essentially I’m not on my own anymore!

While my relationship to Christ is personal, God never intended for it to be private. In God’s family I am connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity. This verse reminds me that, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5).

C. S. Lewis noted that the word “membership” is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to members, and advertisers use member names to create mailing lists. In some organizations, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.

To Paul, being a “member” of the Church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. I need to adopt and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The Church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 6:15, 12:12-27).

God’s purposes for his Church is identical to his five purposes for me. Worship helps me focus on God; fellowship helps me face life’s problems; discipleship helps fortify my faith; ministry helps find my talents; power helps fulfill my mission. There is nothing else on earth like the Church!

In summary, when I follow Christ and join in with others, I help to form one body and belong to the others. Together we can accomplish more of God’s work. Thank you God for showing me your intent this morning for how I am to be involved and become part of a body in the new area I have recently moved to. It is time for me to stop being an observer who is standing on the sideline and to become a participant. Its not just enough to believe, I need to join in and belong.

Community is God’s Answer to Defeat

In review of Ecclesiastes 4:12 it says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.”

Bottom Line:

Stand alone and you are more vulnerable. When someone is with you it’s easier to resist an attack. Add a third and it’s even harder to be broken.

What this means to me:

When I stand alone, I’m subject to attack and defeat. When I’m in fellowship with others, they can help me resist and fight what comes up against me.

The question of the day is, who’s watching out for me?

I need people who will defend me, stand up for me and protect me, help me stay on track, and warn me. We all need this, because we all have blind spots.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Look out for one another’s interest, not just your own” (TEV). This is very much a counter-cultural verse. In America, the general idea is it’s all about “me”, my needs, my interests, my wants, and my ambitions.

But the Bible says we should care about each other. We’re family! As brothers and sisters in God’s family, we should defend each other and help each other stay on track.

I have a personal enemy, and he really hates me. His name is Satan. He wants to mess up my life or at least get me off-track. He wants to ruin my relationships. He ultimately wants to defeat me.

He does this because he can’t hurt God. When you can’t hurt somebody, what do you do? You go after their children. Satan can’t hurt God, so he tries to hurt God’s children.

When Satan attacks me, he doesn’t come in a little red costume with a pitchfork and say, “Boo!” Satan messes up my life through habits I can’t break, through hurts that I won’t let go of, through problems and circumstances, through relationships that break my heart.

Most Christians are defeated, mainly because they try to fight Satan on their own. In reality I’m never going to win against the devil on my own. I need other people who will watch out for me and help me.

Community is God’s answer to defeat. I need to find the people who will stand with me in tough times and say, “We’re not going to let you get discouraged. We’re not going to let you get depressed. We’re not going to let you worry. We’re going to stay here with you.”

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT, second edition).

Today is a great reminder of what I have found to be true in my life before. I need other people who will stand beside me and help me stay on track. I too need to be with others to help defend them and help them stay on track. It is very difficult to try to fight Satan on my own. Now that I have moved into a new community and feel like my wife and I may have settled on a church community to become part of, I will concentrate on developing relationships in which I can partner with others on this effort.

In the Journey of Life, I Need Others

In review of Ephesians 4:16 it says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Bottom Line:

The body depends on Christ, he joins and holds it together.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the body to grow and become healthy, and it becomes strong because of love.

What this means to me:

Christ will guide me to become a part of a body of believers. I can benefit and help benefit others by using the special gifts he has given me to serve and be a part. As I do, it helps the body to grow and become healthy.

There is a verse in Colossians 2:6-7 that says, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (ESV). The Bible often compares life to a walk, because I shouldn’t just sit still in life. I’m on a journey! Throughout the New Testament I’m told to walk in wisdom, in love, in light, in obedience, and in the Spirit.

But one of the key ways that God tells me to walk is this: “I was never meant to walk through life alone. I was meant to be with others, in community.” Community in found within my spiritual family, the Body of Christ.

While I may like walking alone (because I can go at my own pace or need to wait for anyone), I need others to walk with me through life. Here are some reasons:

1. It’s safer. Walking through a dark alley at night or down a long road in the countryside by myself can be a little scary. It’s much safer to walk through life with others.

2. It’s supportive. Life is not a 50-yard dash; it’s a marathon! The only way I’m going to finish the race well and not burn out is by having other people involved in my life through meaningful relationships.

3. It’s smarter. I learn more by walking with others than I do by myself. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool.” In other words, if I’m the only one who thinks something and nobody agrees with me, I may be walking in the wrong direction. When I walk by yourself through life, I don’t have anybody to go, “We’re off the path. We’ve got to get back on the path and go in the right direction.”

Ephesians 4:16 says, “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (NLT, second edition).

I need to have other people in my life to help me grow into the person God made me to be. Life is about relationships. God is love, and he wants me to learn to love him and to love others. Those are the two greatest lessons in life.

In my own life, now that I have moved to a new part of the state I need to re-establish myself into a community. My wife and I have been checking out several different church communities over the past few months and believe we may have found one that we would like to start becoming more involved with. I have already started by getting together with a group from this community who is really serious about getting into and applying God’s word into their lives.

From my perspective and past experiences, I know for sure that it’s much safer to walk through life with others. Finishing well in this life will include having meaningful relationships with others who can I can share with and can speak into my life. I know that just being part of this group of guys has already helped me to learn more.