Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
We serve a Savior who stands and knocks. He doesn’t kick down doors. He doesn’t barge in uninvited. He waits patiently.
It’s a picture of how Jesus works. He’s always willing to come in, but He waits for an invitation. He doesn’t force Himself where He isn’t wanted.
And when you look through Scripture, you’ll notice something remarkable. Every time someone invited Jesus in, He accepted. But what’s even more amazing is who did the inviting. It was rarely what we would call the “good” people. It was people that most would have said were unworthy of Him being there.
1. Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36)
A proud Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him. He didn’t offer water for His feet or oil for His head, but a sinful woman came in and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.
Simon invited Jesus, but he didn’t honor Him. Yet Jesus still went. He still sat at that table, teaching Simon about forgiveness and love.
2. Matthew the Tax Collector (Luke 5:29)
Matthew was a man most people hated. He worked for Rome, collecting taxes from his own people. But after Jesus called him to follow, Matthew threw a big feast and invited Jesus.
Sitting at that table were liars, cheats, and sinners. But Jesus went. He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
3. Zacchaeus the Thief (Luke 19:5-6)
Zacchaeus was rich, crooked, and despised. He just wanted to see Jesus from a tree.
But Jesus stopped and said, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”
Zacchaeus received Him joyfully. A man known for taking became a man known for giving.
4. Martha the Distracted (Luke 10:38)
Martha invited Jesus into her home. She meant well but got overwhelmed with serving.
While she was busy with food, Mary sat at His feet and listened. Martha’s heart was anxious, but Jesus still came in. He gently taught her what mattered most, spending time with Him.
5. The Samaritans (John 4:40)
The Samaritans were outcasts, despised by the Jews. Yet when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, her testimony led others to believe.
They invited Him to stay, and He did, for two days. The Bible says many more believed because of His word.
We’re No Different
Every one of those people was unworthy to have Jesus in their home. And truth be told, we’re unworthy too.
But He still knocks.
If you’re saved, it’s because you invited Him in. You heard Him knocking at your heart’s door, and you said, “Lord, save me.” And He came in.
But sometimes, even after we’re saved, we forget that same truth. We get into a mess, maybe a spiritual slump, a problem at home, a bad attitude, and we try to fix it ourselves.
Meanwhile, Jesus stands outside the mess, knocking.
He’s waiting for you to say, “Lord, I need You again. Come into this situation. I can’t handle it alone.”
He’s just waiting to be invited into it.
Jesus always shows up when He’s invited.
He came to the proud, the sinful, the distracted, and the outcast.
And He’ll come to you too, if you’ll just open the door.
