By Kaitlyn Ruth Bayne
By Kaitlyn Ruth Bayne
Knock, Knock.
Who’s There?
Jesus.
No way.
“Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place” (Luke 4:24-30).
I was always bad at knock knock jokes, but that’s what this Bible reading reminded me of — how many times has someone been at my door, but because I knew the person I didn’t listen to his or her truth. That person was not an expert.
How many times have I sought advice from an expert? Gone miles, waited for some lightening strike, some so called expert, to tell me what I was waiting and wanting to hear. Yet, Jesus had been telling me all along through someone sent with His Spirit what is right, what is good, what is the truth — well you get the picture.
Deacon Joe may profess not to be holy — as he is human, but by his vocation, God has given Him the grace to be His messenger. The comment that he made yesterday about our culture struck me as very prophetic: “If we fill up on the culture, we will be poisoned. But if we fill up on the living water, Christ Jesus we will be made clean. And we will live as God intended.”
Am I opening the door to the loudest experts in culture, saying “come in” to those who tell me it is right because everyone is doing it? Are they the experts? Or is Jesus gently knocking, in the quiet, deepest recesses of my soul, telling me in whispers, sending me an expert each week by asking me to attend church, and to be filled with “living water.” He is here, everyday, at my door. He is asking me to let Him in, He is in someone I know.
Which “knock knock” am I answering?
Heavenly Father, I believe You are in the least of us. I believe You send me Your message in those I know so that I won’t have to wait until I have time to seek an expert. Help me to trust, to discern, to seek Your Truth. Help me open the door to You. Thank you for the wisdom You share through Your simple yet brave messengers. Fill me with living water. Amen.