“Do you love me?”  The words probably haunted Peter on the beach that day. And, frankly, I hear the hesitation and humility in his voice when he answered. The man who would have once answered quickly with self-assurance simply says, “You know, Lord.”

Maybe Peter isn’t the only one getting asked that question today.

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.’” Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)

Even as we read this, some of us are forming arguments in our minds to defend our works and busyness, and preparing to offer a definition of love that accomodates where we’re living today. But in the end, we will offer no excuses, no rationalizations, nor will we explain the original meaning of the word “love” to Jesus. Maybe it’s not that difficult, anyway. Maybe it’s our pride and self-adulation that makes it that kind of difficult.

“Do you love me?” I think it’s a question I’m going to be asking myself a lot more because nobody can worship God for me, and there is, apparently, no substitute for loving God.

Behold, 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... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:20,22 (ESV))

This verse has always made me a little nervous.  It’s a word to the Laodicean church, who was “neither cold nor hot.”  They were successful in their own eyes, but Jesus clearly tells them otherwise. His instructions to this lukewarm, self-sufficient church were, in part, to “be zealous and repent” (verse 19).

The next thing Jesus says is generous and humble: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”  The King stands outside and knocks.  He offers to bring all His royal abundance into that home and more. The language He uses is outrageously lavish.

The thing that gets me is that He’s asking if He can come into His own church! What?! How does the church (built by Jesus, bought by Jesus, etc.) get to a place where the Savior is asking if He can come in? The church at Laodicea thought it was successful and strong, but Jesus said they were naked, blind and totally missing the point. They were missing Him. That’s scary.

zealously dependent

I’m busier than I’ve been in a long time. It’s all (or mostly) Jesus-stuff.  But in the middle of that, I’m hearing this warning, “be zealous and repent.”  Repent of my self-sufficiency. Repent of complacency. Be careful with my goals and my plans and a superficial, or even worldly, estimation of “success.” Keep Jesus front and center. Stay zealously dependent on Him. I’m hearing it.

I’m hearing the promise too: “And I will be with you.”  The entire English language can’t say it any better.  Meditate on that for a second: He will be with me.  Whoa… Selah.

They didn’t know they had left Jesus out in the cold.  Would we?

How do you think we’d know if Jesus were standing out there, knocking on OUR door?