'Knock, and the Door Shall Be Opened!'

Aim: To persist in our faith in Christ—seeking the Lord with all our hearts.

Doctrine: We believers are to persevere in our fervency—knocking until the door is opened. This is our Savior's clear instruction, and it demonstrates the reality of our conversions.

Exegesis: How the divine ''knocking/opening'' dynamic works: God sets us, His children, at liberty in Christ (vv. 11-14), which (freedom) we share with the whole church (vv. 15-17), and the unbelieving world feels its powerful effects (vv. 18-19).

Further application: Why we Christians should always pray and trust (and not lose heart): because the church serves a living God who loves all those who are purchased by the blood of Christ.

Key verse: v. 16 ''Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.''