The Knock That Changes Everything

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

No matter what I’ve done, Jesus wants me!

Zacchaeus’ appearance made him feel insecure and lonely and inferior. Zacchaeus’ accusers made him feel bitter and resentful. But Zacchaeus’ sins made him feel guilty and ashamed.

After stopping and noticing Zacchaeus and calling him by name, Jesus did the most shocking thing of all: He invited himself to the home of the worst guy in the city of Jericho.

Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would be filled with guilt and shame and would never think himself worthy enough to have Jesus in his home.

And still, the Bible says, “When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5 NCV).

Because I'm a human being, I've done things that I'm ashamed of. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV).

But Jesus is more interested in changing me than condemning me. He said he didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).

No matter what I've done, who I’ve done it with, or how long I’ve done it, it matters more what direction my feet are headed today.

In going to Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus was essentially telling him, “No matter what you’ve done, Zacchaeus, I want you. I want to go to your house and have dinner. I want to fellowship with you. I want to have a relationship with you.”

God is saying that to me as well. No matter how much I've blown it, the starting point of salvation is when I swallow my pride and admit I need God’s help.

Sure, I've made mistakes along the way. But I haven’t lost one cent of my value to my Creator.

Jesus wants a relationship with me. He wants to come to my house and have dinner. He’s standing at the door of my life and knocking. He says, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV). 

In summary:

Regardless of past mistakes or feelings of shame, Jesus actively seeks a personal relationship with every individual, just as He did by inviting Himself to the home of the outcast Zacchaeus. It illustrates that while human nature is prone to sin and insecurity, God’s priority is transformation and fellowship rather than condemnation, as our inherent value to the Creator remains unchanged. Ultimately, the starting point of spiritual renewal is found in swallowing one's pride to open the door to Jesus, who stands ready to offer grace and connection to anyone who welcomes Him.

Bottom Line:

This is unconditional belonging. My past actions or personal insecurities do not diminish my value to God. He isn't waiting for me to get my life in order before He approaches me; instead, He is already "knocking," actively seeking a personal relationship and offering a fresh start based on grace rather than judgment.

Next step:

Instead of over-analyzing my past mistakes or trying to "fix" myself to be worthy, set aside 10–15 minutes of quiet time  to simply acknowledge my need.

Be Honest: Like Zacchaeus coming down from the tree, acknowledge the areas where you feel "guilty, ashamed, or inferior."

The "Dinner" Mindset: Imagine the invitation mentioned in Revelation 3:20. If Jesus were sitting across the table from you right now, what is the one thing I’ve been hesitant to tell Him?

Release the Pride: The passage notes that the starting point is swallowing pride. Admit that I don't have all the answers—whether that’s regarding my spiritual life, my business, or my personal peace.

Living Beyond Self-Directed Faith - Made by God, For God

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’” Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)

When it comes to planning their lives, many Christians act like atheists. They know Jesus saved them, but they don’t really trust him with their future. They think they can make plans any way they want to. But the reality is, God created every person for a unique purpose, with a specific plan and destiny in mind.

About two thousand years ago, God had a plan for a young woman named Mary. He created and chose her to be the mother of his Son.

What was Mary’s response when an angel told her about God’s plan? She didn’t say, “I’ve got my own plans for my life. I’m too busy. I have to do what’s best for me.” No, she realized God had a purpose for her life, and she was willing to do whatever he wanted.

Her response was a song of praise: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47 NIV). Mary recognized that God was her Lord and Savior, and she was eager to do his will. She trusted him with her life, even though she knew no one would believe her when she told them what the angel had said.

Am I trusting that God has made me for a specific destiny? The Bible says, “Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends” (Psalm 100:3 NCV).

Many people will miss God’s plan for their lives by about 18 inches—the distance between their head and their heart. They intellectually believe the gospel, but they don’t let it change their hearts.

The truth is that I was not made for my own sake. I was made by God, and I was made for God.

I may know many things, but if I don’t know God, I've missed the purpose of life.

At the end of my life, God won’t care how well I did in my career or ask to see my bank account balance. Instead, he’ll ask me this: “Did you get to know me? Did you build a relationship with my Son, whom I sent to earth to die on the cross for you?”

The most important thing in life is to know God—not to know about him, but to truly know
him personally. So I ask myself, am I getting to know God better—and letting him change my heart—today?

In summary:

While many believers trust God for salvation, they often fail to trust Him with their future, forgetting that God created each of us for a unique purpose and destiny. Mary’s response to God’s plan—humble surrender, praise, and trust despite uncertainty—models what wholehearted faith looks like when belief moves from the head to the heart. The message emphasizes that life is not about self-directed success, careers, or achievements, but about belonging to God and living for Him. Ultimately, the true measure of a life well lived is not what we accomplish, but whether we genuinely know God, build a relationship with Jesus, and allow that relationship to transform our hearts and daily choices.

Bottom Line:

I was made by God and for God, and the purpose of my life is not self-directed success but a surrendered, growing relationship with Him that shapes my heart and my future.

Next steps:

I need to intentionally surrender control of my plans to God by seeking to know Him more deeply each day and letting that relationship shape my decisions. Practically, that means setting aside regular, unhurried time to listen to God—through prayer, Scripture, and reflection—and asking not “What do I want?” but “What do You want to form in me?” The wisdom move is shifting from managing my life for God to walking with God, trusting Him enough to let Him change my heart and direction.

The Responsibility of a Life Well Lived

“Each of us will give a personal account to God.” Romans 14:12 (NLT)

At the end of my life on earth, I’ll stand before God and he’ll evaluate how well I served others. The Bible says, “Each of us will give a personal account to God” (Romans 14:12 NLT).

Think about the implications of that. One day God will compare how much time and energy I spent on myself compared with what I invested in serving others.

At that point, all my excuses for self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy,” or “I had my own goals,” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, and preparing for retirement.”

To all excuses, God will respond with something like, “I created, saved, and called you. Then I commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?”

The Bible warns unbelievers, “He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves” (Romans 2:8 NLT). And Christians who live for themselves will lose eternal rewards.

The Bible says that I'm only fully alive when I'm helping others. Jesus said it like this: “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (Mark 8:35 TLB).

Then he repeats a similar truth twice in the book of Matthew and twice in Luke:

• “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it” (Matthew 10:39 TLB).

• “For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again” (Matthew 16:25 TLB).

• “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it” (Luke 9:24 TLB).

• “Whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall save it” (Luke 17:33 TLB).

I need to catch this. This truth is so important that it is repeated five times in the Gospels. It reminds me that If I am not serving, I'm just existing—because life is meant for ministry.

What does God expect from me? He wants me to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.

In summary:

This passage emphasizes that every person will one day give a personal account to God, who will evaluate how faithfully they lived a life of service rather than self-interest. It challenges the tendency to justify self-centered living with excuses like busyness or personal goals, reminding us that God created, saved, and called us to serve others. Scripture warns that living for oneself leads to loss—of meaning for unbelievers and of eternal rewards for believers—while true life is found in self-giving service. Jesus reinforces this truth repeatedly in the Gospels, teaching that clinging to one’s own life leads to loss, but giving it up for His sake leads to real life. Ultimately, the message is clear: life finds its fullest purpose in loving and serving others unselfishly, because without service, we are merely existing rather than truly living.

Bottom Line:

I was created to serve, and I will be accountable to God for how I used your life—because real life is found not in living for yourself, but in loving and serving others.

Next steps:

Intentionally move from awareness to action by choosing one concrete way to serve others—starting now, not someday. That means honestly examining where your time, energy, and priorities are self-focused, then deliberately reallocating at least one of them toward loving, unselfish service (at work, at home, in your community, or through your gifts). In short: stop postponing service and practice it—because obedience clarifies purpose.

You’ve Never Gone Unnoticed by God

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

No matter how insignificant I feel, I can always be sure that Jesus notices me.

Zacchaeus was a very wealthy man, but he was also very lonely. He was very short and had probably been ridiculed his entire life for it. He was also a tax collector, which means everybody hated him.

When he heard Jesus was coming to his city, Zacchaeus wanted to see him. But there was one problem: A lot of people wanted to see Jesus that day, and Zacchaeus couldn’t see over the crowd, because he was too short.

So Zacchaeus did two things no wealthy, self-respecting man of his time would have done: First, he ran ahead of the crowd, and then he climbed up in a tree. But Zacchaeus didn’t seem to care what other people thought of him in that moment. He was just hoping to see Jesus.

Then Jesus did something even more shocking when he got to the tree Zacchaeus had climbed. The Bible says, “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up” (Luke 19:5 NIV).

In a packed crowd, Jesus paused and paid attention to Zacchaeus.

Can you imagine how Zacchaeus’ heart must have been racing? He was just hoping for a glimpse of Jesus, and suddenly Jesus had stopped and looked up straight at Zacchaeus. The man who had been overlooked his whole life had Jesus’ full attention.

Jesus knows where I am, and he’s paying attention to me. He notices me. There’s never been a moment of my life when God has taken his eye off me.

The Bible says that sparrows are sold for two pennies, “yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 NIV).

I am not alone. God is not a million miles away. He is paying close attention to me. God notices me because I matter to him.

In summary:

No matter how overlooked or insignificant I may feel, God sees me, knows me, and values me deeply. Just as God never forgets even the smallest sparrow, He pays close attention to every detail of my life, knowing me so intimately that even the hairs on my head are numbered. The story of Zacchaeus shows that in a crowded world, Jesus still stops, looks up, and gives personal attention to someone who felt ignored and unworthy, reminding me that God has never taken His eyes off me. I am not invisible, forgotten, or alone—God notices me, cares for me, and affirms my worth.

Bottom Line:

I am fully seen, deeply known, and intentionally valued by God—never overlooked, never forgotten, always noticed.

Next steps:

Move from clarity to embodiment—live and lead like someone who knows they are seen.

The Quiet Choice We Make Everyday

 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13 (NIV)

In order to know what I really love most, look at how I spend my time and money.

Jesus talked about how money reveals priorities. He said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13 NIV).

The word “cannot” is filled with deep spiritual truth. He doesn’t say that it’s difficult to live for both God and money, or that it’s stressful. He says that you “cannot” live for both God and money. In other words, it’s impossible.

My number one goal in life can’t be to serve God and to make money. One has to be subordinate to the other. I can’t have two bosses.

I have to choose what I love most in life. You may say, “I love Jesus most.” But it doesn’t really matter what I say; what matters is what I do.

If I want to know what I love most, look at two things: my calendar and bank statement. The way I spend my time and the way I spend my money, shows what I value most.

In so many cultures today, it’s easy for money to become a god—for it to have first place in life. But that’s not what God wants for me.

Here’s what God wants for me: He wants me to love people and to love him—and to use money as a tool.

If I get that reversed, I'm in trouble. If I start to love money, then I'm going to start using people—and people weren’t made to be used. Instead, use my money as a tool to help me love people and God well.

How do I do that? I use my money to do good, to further the gospel, and to care for people in need.

Remember this: When I live for money, it becomes my master. But when I give my money, it serves me.

In summary:

Jesus teaches that it’s impossible to serve both God and money, because whatever I give first place in my life becomes my true master (Luke 16:13). What I genuinely love most isn’t proven by what I say, but by how I spend my time and money—my calendar and bank statement reveal my real priorities. Money itself isn’t the problem, but when it takes the place of God, it leads me to use people rather than love them. God’s design is the opposite: to love Him and love people, and to use money as a tool for good, generosity, and care for others. When money becomes my master, it controls me; but when I give it away with purpose, it serves me and aligns my life with what truly matters.

Bottom Line:

I can’t serve God and money at the same time—one will always be your master—so your time and finances reveal what you truly love, and money must remain a tool to serve God and people, not a master that replaces them.

Next Steps:

Do a simple, honest alignment check—and then take one concrete action.

Slow Growth, Real Change

“We shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.” Ephesians 4:13 (GNT)

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ. It’s a journey that will last a lifetime!

This is how it works: Every day God wants me to become a little more like him. As the Bible says, “You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you” (Colossians 3:10 NCV).

Today people are obsessed with speed. But God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. I might want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. Maybe I'm looking for a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release me from all growing pains.

But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Message paraphrase says, “Our lives gradually [become] brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

People often build their identity around their defects. I might even tell myself I can’t change, saying, “It’s just the way I am.”

The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, I won’t know who I am anymore. This fear can slow, or even stop, my growth.

So how do I let go of those old habits and grow to be more like Christ? How do I conform my character to his? By developing Christ-like habits to replace those old habits.

Your character is the sum total of my habits—and habits take time to develop. I can’t claim to be kind unless I am habitually kind, showing kindness without even thinking about it. I can’t claim to have integrity unless it is my habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! My habits define my character.

There’s just one way to develop the habits of Christ-like character: I have to practice them, over and over, until they become part of my identity. And that takes time!

But over time, myself—and the people around me—will see the difference. As Paul urged Timothy, “Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).  

In Summary:

Discipleship is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ, growing daily toward spiritual maturity—not through quick fixes or single powerful experiences, but through steady, intentional transformation over time. God is far more concerned with depth, strength, and stability than speed, gradually renewing us as we let go of old identities rooted in habits, hurts, and fears. True character change happens as Christ-like habits replace old ones, because our habits ultimately define who we are. As I consistently practice qualities like kindness, integrity, and faithfulness, they become part of my identity, and over time both myself and others can clearly see the progress God is shaping in us.

Bottom line: 

Becoming like Christ is a lifelong process of steady, intentional growth, formed through daily practice—not quick fixes or single moments.

Next steps:    

Commit to one small, repeatable action that forms both my character and my platform at the same time.

God Created Me to Love Me

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)

Often my problem isn’t that I don't love God enough. My problem is that I don't understand how much he loves me.”

Love is always a response to love. The Bible says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). When you say, “I don't love God,” it's because I don't understand just how much he really loves me.

In fact, God loved me even before he created the earth. The Bible says it like this in the Message paraphrase: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love” (Ephesians 1:4).

To understand my life’s purpose and calling, I have to begin with God’s nature. God is love. Love is the essence of his nature.

And the focus of his love is me. I was created to be loved by God.

If I grasp that profound truth and let it sink into my soul, I will find great strength, confidence, and peace. God created the entire universe in a specific way to support the existence of human beings so that he could create you and love you.

The most important thing I can know is that God created me to love me. The most important thing I can do is to know and love him back. Loving God back is my number one purpose in life. Ants and snails do not love, but I was made in God’s image, so I can love.

Most people go their entire lives missing their purpose. They know all kinds of things—stock quotes, sports scores, the latest technology—but they don’t know God. They miss out on discovering the depth of God’s love and all the blessings he has in store for them.

But that doesn’t have to be true for you and I. God’s priority for my life is clear. It’s important to serve, obey, and trust him. But my first purpose is to love him.

In summary:

God’s love for me did not begin with my effort or understanding—it began before creation itself, when God chose me as the focus of His love and created me to be made whole by it (Ephesians 1:4). My struggle to love God is often not a lack of devotion but a lack of understanding how deeply He loves me, because love is always a response to being loved first (1 John 4:19). Since God’s very nature is love, and I was created in His image, my primary purpose is not simply to serve, obey, or achieve, but to know His love and love Him in return. When I grasp this truth—that I was created to be loved by God—it brings clarity to my purpose and fills my life with strength, confidence, and peace, keeping me from missing the most important thing I was made for.

Bottom Line:

I was created to be loved by God—and my primary purpose is to love Him in response.

Next steps:

Slow down and intentionally receive what’s already true—that I am deeply loved—and then act from that place, not for it. Don’t rush to do more. Let love anchor me—then move forward intentionally.