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

Devotion

My Story

I grew up in church. I knew all the Bible stories, sang the songs, and went to Sunday School. But somewhere in middle school, my faith became apathetic. I started drifting, influenced by whatever was around me—music, friends, and the ups and downs of figuring out who I was.

Then my youth pastor invited me to a retreat called Jesus Freak (yes, just like the DC Talk song). At first, I thought it was kind of weird. But something in me was curious enough to go. At that time, I was wrestling with whether I really believed everything I had grown up hearing about Jesus—or if it was just something my parents believed.

During one of the worship sessions, they played a song called “Love Song for a Savior.” As I sang those words, something shifted. For the first time, I sensed Jesus personally standing at the door of my life—just like Revelation 3:20 says—knocking and waiting for me to invite him in.

That night, I opened the door. I decided to follow Jesus for myself, not just because I grew up in church. My faith journey hasn’t been perfect—there have been highs and lows—but from that point on, my heart has been set on helping others experience that same invitation from Jesus. I’m grateful my parents, youth pastor, and so many countless leaders over the years stood at the door for me to encounter Jesus. 

Why This Matters for Us

Jesus is still standing at the door, knocking on the hearts of people all around us—our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and even the people who already sit in church but haven’t truly opened their hearts to him. 

At Crossings, one of the things I love most is that we are a “stand at the door” kind of church. We don’t close the door with judgment or create barriers for people to come in. Instead, we cultivate relationships and environments where people can hear Jesus’ knock and be welcomed with grace.

Our senior pastor, Marty, has shared this same vision in several sermons, reminding us that one of the most Christ-like things we can do is stay near the door—ready to welcome and walk with those who are just finding their way to Jesus.

In Samuel Shoemaker’s powerful poem “I Stand by the Door,” he captures the heart of what it means to stay near the door of faith—not rushing so far inside that we forget about those who are still searching, but being willing to stand where people need someone to point the way to Jesus.

“I stand by the door. I neither go too far in nor stay too far out. The door is the most important door in the world–it is the door through which people walk when they find God. There’s no use my going way inside and staying there when so many are still outside, and they, as much as I, crave to know where the door is. And all so many ever find is only the wall where a door ought to be. They creep along the wall like blind people, with outstretched, groping hands. They stumble along like something is there and they don’t find it … so I stand by the door.”

We believe in prevenient grace—God is already working in someone’s life before they even realize it. Our role isn’t to “force the door open,” but to lovingly stand beside it, pointing to Jesus, holding it wide, and saying, “You’re welcome here. He’s waiting for you.”

A Door-Holder’s Mission

Romans 15:7 says, “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” That’s our call—to live out our church’s mission of helping people find and follow Jesus. Being a door-holder means three things:

1. A door-holder welcomes.
   We make sure people know there’s always room for them. Every empty chair in a class or service is an opportunity for someone new.
2. A door-holder connects.
   We intentionally build relationships that help people take steps closer to Jesus. People grow in faith best when they’re known and loved.
3. A door-holder multiplies.
   We don’t settle for who is already in the room. We invite, encourage, and disciple others—because eternity is too important to keep to ourselves.

When we live this way, we live out not just our mission but also our vision—to live by faith, be a voice of hope, and be known by love. As Christians, we must continually keep the door of our hearts open to Jesus, guarding against the enemy’s lies and distractions that would try to close it and pull us away from his presence. Being a door-holder is one of the clearest ways we can embody that vision every single day.

Reflection Questions

• Who in your life might be hearing Jesus’ knock right now but needs someone to show them the way in?
• How can you personally welcome, connect, and multiply this week?
• Are you creating environments—like my youth pastor did for me—where people can encounter Jesus’ invitation?

Action Step

This week, pray for one person who may be near the door of faith. Ask God to open a chance for you to invite them—to Sunday School, to worship, or just into conversation. Be intentional about creating space for them to experience Jesus knocking—because you never know how a simple act of invitation could change their eternity.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for standing at the door of my life and inviting me in. Thank you for the moment I opened that door and found your grace. Help me remember what it felt like to be on the outside looking in. Give me eyes to see people who are searching and the courage to invite them closer. Use me as a door-holder—to welcome, connect, and multiply—so others can find and follow you and live by faith, be a voice of hope, and be known by love. Amen.

Scott Bartlow
Pastor, Adult Discipleship & Evangelism - OKC

Resources

• Watch Stand at the Door from Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs.
• Listen to Love Song for a Savior by Jars of Clay. 

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