Just two weeks ago, more than 1,400 people attended the Aldersgate conference in Charleston, WV.  Many expressed a strong sense of the presence of God and experienced His tangible touch emotionally and physically.  We celebrate this move of God and pray that there would be lasting fruit in the lives of the adults, youth and children upon whom God unleashed the transformational, equipping power of His Holy Spirit.

It’s easy to feel close to God and to vow a lifetime of obedience to His promptings at an event like the Aldersgate conference where the intensity of God’s presence is particularly tangible.  The challenge is: when we get home and face our everyday circumstances, will we still pursue that same closeness with God?  In Jeremiah 30, the prophet asks, “Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?”  That question is a challenging invitation for a life-time commitment to daily pursue an “on-growing” relationship with God, regardless of our circumstances.

God lovingly reminded me how much He wants to have that kind of a relationship with me through an experience with my dog.  While I am hesitant to share a “Dog story” two months in a row, I will take the risk to share what God showed me.

Two years ago, our family adopted a black lab mix named Sophie.  A rescue from the local humane society, Sophie is loving and gentle.  One of the ways her gentleness is reflected is that when she encounters a door that is ajar, she will not push her way through it.  One morning, I was having my quiet time in a chair in our bedroom.  As I was reading Revelation 3 and inviting God to reveal any “lukewarmness” in my own life, I heard the familiar clicking of Sophie’s toenails on our hardwood floor in the hallway.  Because the door was cracked open, I could tell that she was approaching the bedroom.  When the clicking stopped, I glanced up and saw that she was just sitting outside the door.  Looking right at her I gently said, “Come on Soph.”  She didn’t move.  “Come here pup,” I said to her a little more animated.  Again, she just sat.

It was an interesting scenario.  I could see and hear Sophie, and she could see and hear me, yet, she would not push open the door.  Here was this one who wanted to be with me, and yet, would not force her way in.

After a few silent moments, I decided to get up and open the door.  As I approached, she immediately stood to her feet and wagged her tail.  I opened the door, and in she came.  At my invitation, she jumped up in my chair and I ruffled her fur and rubbed her head.  She responded by licking my hand.  She then jumped down and settled contently by my chair.

I went back to reading Revelation 3, thinking about what had just happened.  I paused at verse 20: “Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  I was humored at first, and then was cut to the heart by the truth told by my actions.  Here I was, so quick to respond and open the door to a dog, and yet painfully aware that there have been numerous times that I have been content to sit lukewarm, unresponsive to a loving, gracious God who was gently knocking on the other side of a door in my life.  The missed blessing?  Deeper intimacy with God.  The missed opportunity? A chance for fresh impartation of divine clarity, eternal perspective and supernatural all-sufficient grace for the journey.  The reality is that I forfeit much when I choose to not respond to God’s knocking.

I confessed my unresponsiveness to God asking His forgiveness for resisting Him and forfeiting His grace.  I then invited Him to have access to every area of my life.  Perhaps there are areas of your life that are closed off to God.  Regardless of how the doors were closed, God’s invitation to you and to me still stands… Child, I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to you and fellowship with you, and you with Me.

I believe that challenge also applies to ARM as we co-labor as ARM Family Partners.  We must be devoted to be close to God - with every facet of the ministry accessible to Him.  We can’t afford to forfeit God gifts of divine clarity, eternal perspective and all-sufficient grace.  Would you join me in praying that if there are any doors upon which God is knocking, that we would be responsive and swing the doors wide open to the fullness of His transformational, equipping power?  There is much ahead and we don’t want to miss a thing that God wants to do in ARM and through ARM as we seek to equip individuals and churches to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.