He Stands Outside The Doors We've Closed

Music: tune, Dove Of Peace, The Southern Harmony, 1835

The author writes of this new hymn:

High above the Chancel of the St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Derry, New Hampshire, there is a beautiful stained glass window that depicts Jesus standing and knocking at a door. The reference, of course is to Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." [RSV]

As I listened to the morning prelude and meditated on the message in the window, in occurred to me that often we live inside closed doors. Upon further reflection I thought that if weopen our doors and offer hospitality, it would be the beginning of a transforming relationship with Jesus that leads to new life.

The text is also linked to Luke 24:30-32 "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.They said to each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?'" [NRSV] and, Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" [NRSV]

He Stands Outside the Doors We've Closed (PDF File)