05/03/2019
Who enters into our heart? In the house of our faith, which is our body, who do we place at the most honored seat at our table, and who do we allow to occupy the master’s bed? We have many who come into our lives, and many who vie for our worship and faith, but there is only one who deserves to be called master. Who is it in your life, your heart, and your soul? To whom have you opened your door?
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
We know that God, and Jesus, wish to take up residence within us, but they are not the only ones who knock at the door of our heart. We live in a world of false King’s that wish to deceive us and become our master, and scripture warns us about this. We can place ourselves on the throne, or money, maybe even the world by seeking power, and influence in it, but there is none more devious and desirous of us than Satan Himself, and he wishes to fill our hearts. Listen as Peter, speaks to Ananias about allowing Satan into his heart...
“But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?”
Acts 5:3 ESV
Over the course of our day we have many bad actors who come to our door and knock. We have multiple influences that desire for us to let them in and each one longs for us to seat them at our table, so we need to be careful, and only open our door to He who saves us from destruction, who is good, and true. It is our choice as to who comes in; none can enter that we don’t allow them in, and Jesus makes this known to us...
“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.”
Revelation 3:20 ESV
If Jesus, and God must knock, then it is also true of all others. So the decision is ours as to who we allow past our threshold, and once into our hearts, and minds, and souls, it is our decision what place they will occupy there.
As our parents age, or perhaps their circumstances dictate, it might become necessary for a child to move them into his home. Today it is not uncommon for people to build a “Mother in law’s apartment”, a room onto their house, or in some cases just provide a spare bedroom for them to call their own. Occasionally a parent’s mobility or health might mean that they must take the master bedroom. In most of these cases the parent soon becomes the center of the family’s attention. They require a great deal of care as they are taken to doctor’s appointments, and a great many other accommodations... so for a season the house has a new focus, and sometimes a new master. This is unlike most houseguests, who soon wear out their welcome, a parent is there out of a deep seated love, and although it is a hardship, it is one that is readily accepted, and endured. This is how we should treat our Father God as well.
When we hear the knock at our door do we recognize it as that of our Heavenly Father, or our Brother Jesus? If we do then we should let them in, accommodate them, and love them with all we are, and we should prepare the master’s bedroom for them, and seat them at the place of honor at our Table.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
“"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12 ESV
Satan on the other hand comes with a sly tongue, and attempts to enter our faith’s abode by means of a lie... he even presents himself as our father. Listen to these words from the book of John:
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44 ESV
Knocks come at our door all the day long, some are those we should discern as good, true, and trustworthy, like Jesus, but most are worldly temptations, large and small, or perhaps the great deceiver... Satan himself. So it is up to us, through our own discernment with the aid of the Holy Spirit, and God’s Word, to choose who we will allow entrance, and then to decide how prominently they will affect our life. There is only room for one master, and one seat at the head of our table, and the questions of eternal life become these... who do we allow in, who occupies the master bedroom, and who do we seat at the place of honor at the tabletop our faith?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Word that gives me knowledge, and your Holy Spirit that guides me in understanding and discernment. I thank you Father for your knock at the door of my heart, and the truth with which you answer when I call out “Who is there?” or “State your purpose here!” I thank you also Lord for the knocking of your Son Jesus Christ who teaches me of your character and through whom your grace and forgiveness come to evict all those whom I mistakenly allowed entrance in earlier times. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God, the ruler of my heart, the Master of my house, and He who sits at the head of my table. Abide in me Jesus, abide in me Holy Father, and remain with me all the days of my life. Praised be your name Father, and great is your truth, mercy, and goodness. Glorious is your name, and the object of my worship forevermore.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:8-11 ESV
Rich Forbes