AM I READY TO BE CHANGED?

“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelations 3:19-20, NLT).

Do I realize that I must continually seek His heart, or do I believe that I am at the place where I have “arrived”? Is He the heartbeat of my life, or is He on the outside waiting and knocking to be invited into every area that I keep hidden? Do I believe that all is well when in truth I am just a withering branch on the vine? When I believe that I am just where I need to be in my relationship with Him, then I am dying–not dying to self, but to Him. Without continually seeking Him, I have none of His life-blood flowing and rendering power in my life. Without surrender, I have no power or no purpose.

Is this what I wish for my life? No power or purpose? If I bring a heart which will not surrender to God’s discipline and pruning, then I reap my own self-sufficiency. A heart that is not completely surrendered to Christ needs nothing more. A heart that believes it lives for Christ but really doesn't because of hidden things, is a heart that is hard and unchanged by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a heart with its own agenda. It is a heart that doesn't even realize it is impotent and purposeless.

“Those whom I love,” Jesus implores, “I correct and discipline. I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you!” When I bring a surrendered heart, I offer a heart that is not hardened or self-sufficient. If there is sin in my life, I bring Him a heart that is easily rebuked and disciplined. When He wishes to prune my life for greater yield, I willingly submit to the lesson He wishes to impart and allow it to transform my life. When I open the door, He enters and shares His heart with me. And I share my heart with Him. He becomes my greatest friend.

Jesus Christ knocks, but it is up to me to open the door. He will not force His way into each part of my life which I withhold from Him. I must yield. I must make the effort. He is knocking right at this moment, and longing to be invited into all the crevices of my life. He yearns to bring His life-changing power to thoroughly transform me. Will I open the door this time, and allow it to always remain open? Am I truly ready to be renewed and transformed by the Potter's hand? I am the only one who can answer that question.