Thought for the Day - Monday 31 May

Revelation 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." Powerful verse, powerful painting! Notice there is NO doorknob on the Outside... it must be opened by the resident! As a youngster, I shared my bedroom with my big sister, Irene (McKellar).   We had a lovely house and beautiful bedroom in O’Wood Avenue, Holytown.  Our bedroom furniture was chosen by us both and came from the famous Dalziel Co in Motherwell.  We had a double wardrobe (oak/white) with vanity unit in the middle, lights around the mirror and a tall chest of drawers.  There was a very rich green ‘shag pile’ carpet and flowery green & white twin bedspreads.  On the walls was Irene’s choice of poster, the famous Donny Osmond and I am ashamed to say my choice was Jimmy Osmond (Long haired lover from Liverpool) fame. Between our two beds, a small bedside table with bookcase below and placed on top was the alarm clock for school (although this was not needed as my gran McKellar lived with us! 😊) & bedside lamp.  Also placed on the top of the bedside table was a white & silver picture frame and inside a print of the ‘Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt.   I loved that picture then and I love that picture now.  It takes me back to my childhood with memories of a loving home, a loving family, and a loving Church family.   The Light of the World was painted by William Holman Hunt in the mid-1800’s and became a popular subject for Victorian era religious devotions.  It’s based on Revelation 3:20 and is filled with great symbolism for you to decode! ·        First, it’s important to puzzle through the symbol of the door.  What does it represent?   Could it be “your heart”. ·        Then, the most obvious visual element is that Christ is bringing light.  Christ is the Light of the World.   Christ’s light first entered our lives at the time of Baptism. ·        Next, notice how Christ is knocking.  He certainly could be pounding on the doors to our heart – the message of salvation is urgent and nothing is more important – but instead He appears to be gently knocking.  This reminds us that Jesus will never demand a place in our lives, but He is always, always, always lovingly asking us to open the door just a little wider so His light can come in just a little more. ·        You can see from the brush and weeds growing up next to the door that this particular door/heart has not been opened to Christ in a very long time, perhaps never.  But He’s still out there hoping to be let in.  This can be a very encouraging reminder that we can never fall so far away from Christ that He is no longer there.  No matter what, He is always close by waiting for our response to His knock. ·        Another less obvious feature of this piece is that there is no doorknob on the outside.  Jesus will not let Himself in; the knob is on my side of the door and only I can open it to answer His invitation to me, and it’s the same for each of you as well.   In conclusion, please be assured that Jesus is standing at YOUR door.  Jesus is gently knocking.  Will you open the door of your heart and let him in?   Prayer   Dear Lord Jesus,   Thank you for always being there.  You've been there from the beginning, waiting for us.  Heavenly father, even when temptation has had a hold, give us the strength and wisdom to follow your light.   Lord Jesus we know that there is much work to be done in your name in our local community.  We ask that that more people will open their hearts to you and in so doing help to complete the work that needs to be done in your name. We thank you for always being there for us and for guiding us on the path to eternal life.    Your word promises that you stand at the door and knock. Today we hope that many will want to open the door and open their hearts to your knock.   Lord Jesus, we do invite you in.  Amen.