It Starts Small

² I was sleeping, but my heart was awake.
A sound! My love was knocking!

Man

Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my perfect one.
For my head is drenched with dew,
my hair with droplets of the night.

Songs 5:2

This verse bursts forth with a paradox – “I was sleeping, but my heart was awake.” The bride finds herself in a tantalizing state of tension, caught between the embrace of slumber and the alertness of her spirit. Then, she hears His voice. The Beloved draws near, gently knocking, beckoning her with deeply affectionate words: “…my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one.” This is no mere invitation; it is a sacred moment of divine visitation that stirs the soul. Instead of rushing to the door, the bride pauses, overwhelmed. This moment unveils a profound truth about intimacy with God – it is not always a comfortable journey. Sometimes, the invitation feels like a jarring interruption, disrupting our rhythm and comfort, igniting a holy yearning within.

²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

This verse resonates profoundly. Jesus stands at the door, gently knocking, offering Himself not just as our Savior but as a cherished companion longing to dwell within us. However, the door can only be opened from the inside. He takes the first step, but it’s up to us to respond. Theologically, this reflects the beauty of free will; God reaches out and invites us into a divine conversation, yet He will never impose Himself. He patiently awaits a willing bride. Love blossoms and matures when we consciously choose it—especially when it demands something from us—our time, our comfort, our pride, our very schedules.

Psychologically, a delayed response often uncovers our deepest priorities. When we hesitate to say yes to love, we reveal the truths that govern our hearts—fear, apathy, and the instinct to self-protect. God uses these pauses not to shame us but to illuminate those hidden attachments. Neuroscience teaches us that our brains are wired to resist discomfort, clinging to the familiar. Yet, true growth ignites when we defy that instinct, boldly opting for intimacy over inertia. The more we train ourselves to respond passionately to love’s call, the more resilient and attuned we become to the profound depths of our relationships.

This moment in the book of Songs transcends mere failure; it is a potent experience of formation. The bride will eventually respond, though not immediately. In that precious delay, something sacred begins to unfold: a profound awakening to the true essence of being chosen, called, and invited into divine union with God—even amidst our weariness, indifference, or reluctance.

Journal Prompt:

• Have you ever sensed God calling you when it felt inconvenient or uncomfortable?
• WHat held you back from responding?

Practical Steps and Application:

1. Create intentional space in your day where God can speak.
2. Journal one area where you have hesitated to respond to God’s invitation.
3. Pray for the Lord to open your ears to hear – even when you would rather sleep.

Deeper Introspection:

Read Revelation 3:20.

²⁰ See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

The passage of Revelation 3:20, “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”, is a personal invitation from Jesus to a lukewarm church (Laodicea) for restored fellowship. It can be applied to both individual believers who have grown complacent and to those who have never fully embraced Christ.

Reflecting on your spiritual condition

• Self-sufficiency vs. dependence: In Revelation 3:17, Jesus identifies the Laodicean church’s prideful self-reliance, saying, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing’”. In what areas of your life have you started to rely on your own abilities or resources instead of depending on Jesus?
• Lukewarmness: The Laodiceans were condemned for being “neither hot nor cold” (Revelation 3:15). Write about a time when your spiritual life has felt lukewarm or indifferent. What caused this, and what steps can you take to rekindle your passion?
• Identifying the knock: How do you recognize Jesus’s “knock” in your life? Is it a quiet prompting during prayer, a call to repentance after a sin, or a clear message from Scripture? Describe a recent time you heard his voice and your response.
• Opening the door: Revelation 3:20 emphasizes that opening the door is a choice. What fears, habits, or worldly distractions keep you from fully opening the door to Christ? How can you commit to consistently letting him in?

Deepening your fellowship with Christ

• The promise of fellowship: The verse ends with the promise, “I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”. A shared meal in ancient culture was a sign of close, intimate fellowship. What would it be like to have that close and personal meal with Jesus? What topics would you discuss?
• The purpose of dining: To “dine with him” suggests a continual, daily fellowship rather than a one-time event. How can you move beyond superficial prayers and cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus in your everyday life?
• Welcoming correction: Jesus tells the Laodiceans, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline” (Revelation 3:19). Write about a time when you received loving correction from God. Did you welcome it or resist it? What did you learn from the experience?

Unwillingness and rejection

• The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16–22): This man came to Jesus asking about eternal life but was unwilling to give up his possessions to follow him. He “went away sorrowful” because he was unwilling to open the door and invite Jesus to transform his life fully. This demonstrates what happens when material wealth takes priority over a relationship with God.
• The parable of the sower (Luke 8:4–15): The seeds that fall among thorns represent those who hear the word but are “choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life” and fail to mature. This image directly relates to the Laodicean church, which was so distracted by its wealth that it crowded Jesus out.

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