A Knock...A Door Opened

A Knock...A Door Opened...12-12-25

A woman and her husband have been working deligently with the Wildcat Booster Club this past year. They are intentional about doing anything that will bring motivation, joy, and uplift the students. This Christmas, they decided to do a Christmas Riddle Challenge during Semester Test. The woman sent me a screenshot of each day and the photos of students looking for the prize, as well as, the antics that went along with the Challenge.

As I read this day, I was struck with the words. I am going to say that I am not a riddle person. I absolutely love them, but cannot figure riddles out. My mind doesn't work that way. I am a literal person. I like things cut and dried. However, as I read the words, I looked behind the riddle, at the words and their reflection of the Lord at this season. The first sentence, "I stand where trouble ends, not where joy begins." That is completely opposite of what we would think as the joy surrounding this season and what it brings - Jesus, the Savior of the world. This season brings joy beyond measure to those who know Him. Who love Him. However, Philippians 2:1-11 speaks of Christ's humility. True joy begins where our self ends. Where we look not to our own interests, but to the interests of others. We have encouragement that joy comes when we are like-minded and obedient like Jesus. In riddle form, maybe these words are correct. Maybe the joy doesn't begin because of Christmas, but because of Christ in Christmas. Because we are putting aside ourselves and looking to Jesus, looking to God who sent His son.

The bricks, boards, and bays refer to construction and masonry. It isn't about the homes, the walls, the buildings, but the people within. It wasn't about the mansions, but the lowly stable. He couldn't have been born in a palace, because we wouldn't see the humility. He wouldn't be for all men. Luke 2:12, "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Even this line points to Christ's birth. "Find not the crowned, nor the loud, nor the long ago crowd". Just think of the celebration when a son of a King is born. Think of the people waiting in the streets with anticipation. The crowd cheering at the news. There was none of this. No crowds, no crown, no cheering. Just the animals, Mary, Joseph, and God. Luke 2:7, "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Simple, but profound.

There was one more line in this that stopped me. "And do not knock, unless invited." I read this and immediately said, "we want all to knock, come to Jesus." But, maybe it is Jesus knocking at our door. In Revelations 3:20 it says, "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 do know that God invites those to come to Him. He invites those to enter into His kingdom. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." I don't want anyone who seeks, not knock. I want the door opened to everyone. It is truly that none should perish, but all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9.