EVERYBODY IS WELCOME

Dearly Beloved, EVERYBODY IS WELCOME “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” (Revelation 3:20 NKJV). One of the unforgettable experiences I had when I was in the United Kingdom a year ago was my involvement with the International Meeting Point (IMP) (run by Presbyterian Church Ireland) located on Lisburn Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland that reaches out to migrants and asylum seekers in the city. I just relocated to that part of the city, and I was exploring the area when I saw the signpost of the centre. As curious as I was during my sojourn in the country, I entered the centre and inquired from a staff what the centre is up to. I was made to understand that it is a centre where everybody is welcome to enjoy “a wide variety of help and services [for] those who come through its doors [by] serving food and drinks in the cafe, offering legal advice, running English classes, taking people shopping, helping the unemployed find jobs and leading Bible studies.” For almost five months, I used to visit this centre to enjoy its rendered services. This centre is on a major road in the city, but not everyone in the city (especially migrants and asylum seekers) cares to visit the centre and make use of the facilities provided and services rendered in the centre. Only those who care to visit the centre are enjoying what the centre has to offer. Similarly, Jesus Christ “was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:10-13 NKJV). While many people are already enjoying the goodness that is in Jesus Christ, it is a pity that many people are still refusing to test and taste this goodness. Some of these latter people think that they are self-sufficient and do not need Jesus Christ and what He has to offer. Some of them look elsewhere to find succor where there is none. However, Jesus Christ declared: “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” (Revelation 3:20 NKJV). This is another Christmas season when we are been reminded about the coming of Jesus Christ in human form to this world. Do not be like “His own” (the Jews) that did not receive Him. Everybody is welcome to enjoy the goodness in the Lord Jesus. He stands at the door of your heart and is knocking today. He wants you to taste and see that He is good (compare Psalm 34:8). Everybody is welcome. Will you come to Him? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Action: Receive Jesus Christ into your life today and enjoy His goodness if you have not done so.