July 23
His Hand is on the Latch
In the Hour of Silence"Behold, I stand at the door and knock."—Revelation 3:20.
LET me marvel at the condescension and patience of the Lord. He stands at the door of my heart and knocks. He humbles Himself, and, as a Suppliant, begs to be permitted to enter in. And He is not easily driven away. Despite my repeated refusals, He waits and pleads. What sweetness of grace is His! What endurance of love—love unresentful of all scathe!
Let me be impressed and awed by my own responsibilities and dangers. I must open the door from the inside, and, if it is still closed and barred, then it is I who am chargeable with that crime. Jesus will not force His way within against my will; if He is without to-day, after so long a time, it is I who am keeping Him there on the wrong side of the threshold. What a contingency is this, and what a peril!
But let me receive the knocking Saviour with all that He brings. When I say Yes to Him, when I undo the bars of self-righteousness or of indifference or of cherished sin, when I throw wide the gates of my soul, it is the beginning of blessedness for me. It is a feast and a good day. At last I have begun to live. Blessed be God, as David Brainerd said, I "repair to a full fountain"; I have all and abound. "Well may this glowing heart rejoice, and tell its raptures all abroad."
Come in, Thou Blessed of the Lord, why standest Thou without?
"The angel sought so far away, I welcome at my door."
Nay, not the angel, but the Lord of the angels, before whom their glory pales and their love is cold and all their gifts are naught.