And He With Me

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

This is one of the most familiar verses in the Scripture. It was written by the Lord Jesus Christ to the church in Laodicea. These were members of the Laodicean Church, believers in the Gospel, yes, but they had forgotten the necessity and regular practice of repentance in every believer’s life. (“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9)

This verse in this last letter to the seven churches is not a verse about evangelism, as it is so often, but wrongly, used; this is a call to repentance and to a renewed, live fellowship with Jesus. And there is this interesting phrase at the end of the verse that is intentionally there, though normally you would find it an unnecessary phrase. The verse would be quite understandable if it simply ended with “… I will come into him and eat with him,” period! Why add “and he with Me?” This is very much worth your meditation! 

It is not enough for Jesus to seek fellowship with you; he wants to receive fellowship in return FROM you. He not only has much to say to you, He wants to hear what you have to say to Him!

Jesus did the vast majority of the talking to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus on His resurrection day. He ate a meal with them, and it was only in “the breaking of bread” that they actually recognized Him. But as He personally taught them as they walked together, He mesmerized their minds and hearts while showing them all the places where He was set forth in the Old Testament. They did not have very much to say while He focused on expanding their knowledge of the OT Scriptures. 

But here in Revelation 3:20, Jesus asks every believer to open the door of their hearts that He might come in and fellowship with them, and they, in turn, fellowship with Him. He wants to hear what you have to say. Namely, you must think of passages like 1 John 1:9 and Romans 10:9, or 1 John 5:14-15 and 1 Peter 5:7, or Psalm 145:18. These verses all are about what you would say to Jesus in speaking to Him. Fellowship is truly a two way street. He talks to you, and you talk to Him.

Jesus does not want you to be tongue-tied in His presence. He wants you to pour out your soul to Him (“Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7). He wants to hear what you think of Him. He wants to know if you really know Him. He wants to hear the anxiety and concerns of your heart. He wants to hear what in the world you think about. He wants to hear what in the world thrills your soul. 

This Lenten Season, as you prepare your heart for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, concentrate on practicing the regular use of 1 John 1:9. Confess your sins to your Savior. Pour out your soul to Jesus of your anxieties, your activities, and your special interests. Fellowship with Him! He asks for you to truly share your life with Him. Especially as you come to the fuller knowledge of who He is and, what He has done and what He now does as your by-faith-experienced Master and LORD.

Encouragement