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One day God stands up with arms outstretched over more people than I can imagine, and he declares to the universe, "Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

Someone has said that keeping the faith of Jesus is the very reason they can keep the commandments of God. So what is the faith of Jesus? Is it some kind of faith Jesus had? Or is it a faith that trusts in Jesus? The Greek text supports both interpretations. It is a faith which knows and trusts Jesus the same way Jesus knew and trusted the Father. This is an intimate, sit-down-and-eat-together relationship. For me, Revelation 3:20 gives the picture of this faith.

Jesus says, "Look, I am knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and be with you. We’ll eat together."

Let’s notice three things about this picture.

First, Jesus is knocking, not turning the handle. In a popular artist’s rendering, there is no latch at all on the outside. Faith is a human choice, a decision to open a door.

Second, what is required of me? Hearing and opening. That is all. How many distractions might keep me from hearing and opening? This is why I am on a mission to increase listening in the world. I think today’s culture bombards our ears and blocks our doorways unless we take care to bring some intentional silence and listening into our lives.

Third, we’ll eat together. If you come and put your knees under my table and eat with me, I feel honored. I know you better than I did before. We can talk without worrying about staring or wondering what to do with our hands. It’s a way to be together without frantically trying to do.

Who provides the meal? Well, the text doesn’t say I must, and the context indicates that I just might not be able to, so I think Jesus brings a picnic basket with him. I like to let my imagination work on what might be in that basket, chosen especially for me by his loving care.

"Here," he says, "this is for those who keep the faith of Jesus and the commandments of God."