When I was little, I was taught a simple mealtime prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. May our daily bread be blessed.” As a child, I liked the rhythm and the rhyme. I was starting to understand that Jesus can be our guest in the instant we invite him into our thoughts.  At this age, I often stared at a famous painting of Jesus knocking on a door, which hung in a children’s classroom at our church. I was beginning to understand the significance. I wondered why anyone wouldn’t want to answer his knock.

Later, I learned that the mealtime prayer and the painting were based on a passage in the New Testament. This passage is the words of the resurrected Jesus giving a message from Heaven to his followers on earth.

“To the . . . church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Revelation 3:14

Isaiah 65:16 refers to God in Hebrew as ‘amen elohim’, the true God who is powerful and majestic. Jesus is calling himself ‘the Amen’. The inference is clear. He further emphasizes his truthfulness by declaring that he is the faithful and true witness. Then he establishes his authority as the Ruler over God’s universe. These credentials should illicit awe and honor from his audience!

Then we see that the Ruler of  creation noticed the deeds of the people in the church at Laodicea. He wasn’t an impersonal force disconnected from humans, in fact he was aware of the thoughts and motives behind their lukewarm actions.  They weren’t doing morally wrong things; in fact, it appears they were doing life the best they could. They weren’t evil; they were decent people. But their everyday life was done without thought for God.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” Revelation 3:15

Lukewarm is repulsive to Jesus, yet our sad condition causes him to want to come close to us and help us. In an effort to coax them close, he warned them of the danger they were in. He would have to separate himself from them or more accurately, he would have to separate them from himself.
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16

I used to think Jesus was being harsh, but now I understand that Jesus loves us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. Jesus loved those he was addressing so much that he confronted their problem and offered a solution. These folks weren’t bad people. But they had a spiritual problem that Jesus had the answer to. These people lived in an advanced, wealthy city called Laodicea. It was a banking center, and also known for textile production and a medicinal eye salve. Their material comforts and security had made them prideful and complacent. They mistakenly thought they had everything they needed.
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’“Revelation 3:17a

But Jesus saw things differently. He pointed out their lack of spiritual wealth, their embarrassing exposure, and their blindness to what is truly important. They had time for careers, entertainment, buying nice things, wearing attractive clothing, and taking care of their physical needs. But they had no time for him. He was excluded from their busy lives.
“But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17b

Now that he had pointed out their desperate need, he generously offered to fill it.  Instead of wealth that we leave behind when we die, he offered them lasting riches like peace, and  love.  Instead of the latest fashion, he offered them the white robes of those cleansed from sin.  Instead of blindness, he offered the ability to see what matters, spiritual truth.
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:18

He offered to provide all they needed. He didn’t want to spit them out – that was his last resort. His generous heart begs them to be earnest and change. His love for them drove him to confront.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19

He isn’t beating on the door with threats. He, the Ruler of the universe, politely asks to come in. He knows that spending time with him is the remedy for lukewarmness.  He is eager to be with them. He yearned to sit down with them and talk. He knew that listening and talking to him is the solution to our wretched condition. Welcoming him into our homes is the answer to our prideful, pitiful situation.
“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
Reciprocity- he will eat with us, and we will eat with him. He listens to us, and we listen to him. He understands us, and he will help us understand him. He wants to come into our homes, doing everyday life with us; a faithful Companion.

In the future, he will invite us into his home in heaven, where we will sit with him as his honored guest.
“To the one who is victorious (or overcomes), I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious (or I overcame) and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21
We are enabled to be victorious when we make time in our busy schedules to listen to Jesus by reading the Bible every day. We become overcomers by bringing our thanks and our needs to him in prayer. We are overcomers when we are both bold and loving in expressing our faith. We are victorious when we willingly do what he wants.  We overcome the sorrows of this present life by looking forward to the happiness in Heaven with our Lord, where we will be his guests.

How easy it is to be Laodiceans! Not bad people, just humming along doing life. But that is a dead-end path. We desperately need Jesus in our lives. He’s waiting each day for our open door and willing invitation. Our hospitality to him will be repaid a thousandfold when he hosts us in Heaven.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:22