You will be surprised also that I do not condemn you.  I bring you love that you have never before experienced – unconditional, unmerited, unending.

Knowing my love for you, you must not be afraid to listen to me.  My people have been deaf; they keep turning away, letting my words be lost in the noise and confusion of their lives.  

– Ben Johnson, I Stand at the Door, CTS Press, 1986, 4.

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.” 

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

Matthew 4:15-17

• Trusting Christ’s great love for you, what burdens do you need to release to him today?  What guilt, worry, fear, grief do you need to bring to him?  Christ stands at our door and knocks, longing for us to let him in – to reveal to him the whole truth about our lives.
• Can you identify noise and confusion in your life?  What are its sources?  Tomorrow we will think about ways to create space to listen intentionally to Christ. 

Holy Lord,
Help me to trust in your love for me.
Surprise me with it Lord – 
with its presence
and with its boundless nature.
Help me to know that no matter how many times I turn away,
no matter how many times the noise of my life drowns you out,
that you will still come knocking.
You will always come to me,
because you love me with a love that is
unconditional, unmerited, unending.
AMEN