Times were bad and money was scarce. Poor Mary Smith watched her bills mounting up and her rent getting farther and farther behind, and was terrified. Surely the landlord would soon be at her door with an eviction notice and she would be put out on the street. How could she live then?
Soon there did come a man to her door, but it was not the landlord. It was the representative of a charitable organization with vouchers that would provide her with food and heat and that all-important rent. He knocked, but there was no answer. He went to the window, to the back door, to every possible opening but there was not the slightest response.
At last he gave it up and went away, carrying his offers of help with him. Poor Mary thought he had come to collect money—and she had nothing to pay him. So she tightly barred every door and window and refused to answer the knocking. Foolish Mary!
There is Another who says, "I stand at the door and knock." It is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He too stands waiting with blessings in His hand. Many people, though, think that He comes to add to their burdens, to collect payment for their sins, to bring them only misery. So they shut Him out. Foolish people!
The Lord Jesus said, "If thou knewest the gift of God!" What is that gift He offers? "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). There is nothing to pay—there is no possibility of paying—we have only to receive. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." Are you going to open the door? Will you receive Him? Or is He to be forever shut out of your heart? He will not force an entrance!