Open Up the Doors

Mother’s Day is a special event in our family. We have so many of them. My mother, my sister’s mother-in-law, my brother’s mother-in-law, my daughter-in-law, my sister’s daughters and her daughter-in-law. Including my sister and myself, there are ten mothers, and after church today, most of the family gathered at the home of one of my nieces to celebrate. We ate and talked and laughed and fed children and held sleeping babies. Then we settled on the porch to give an opportunity for children, young and old, to share a tribute and honor their moms.

We are, as you know, a closely knit family. We’ve shared, with open hearts, so much life: victories and heart aches, triumph and suffering, laughter and tears. And, we’ve shared our love of God and His faithfulness to us through it all. We’ve learned from each other how to love well, how to serve, and how to call on the name of the Lord in every circumstance.

I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my pleas.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord,
May it be in the presence of all His people,
In the courtyards of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord! {Ps 116:1-2, 17-19 NASB)

Yes, we call upon Him. We know He hears and is attentive to our cry, whether it is in rejoicing or desperate need. And not only that, He, too, is calling our name, knocking on the door of our heart, and offering to meet with us, to share His life with us.

Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 NASB) Each of us must answer that knock, and when we do we have an opportunity to receive what He is offering: abundant life. This effervescent life cannot be contained. It bubbles up and gushes out. It causes hearts to break, to mend, to swell and to reach out. Rushing over obstacles and crushing barriers, it reaches beyond the suffocating limitations of selfishness. This love knows no bounds. This is the love of God.

Until next week, beloved, open up the doors and let Him in.