It’s Time to Answer the Knock at Your Door - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - December 31, 2025

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“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

No matter what you’ve done, Jesus wants you!

Zacchaeus’ appearance made him feel insecure and lonely and inferior. Zacchaeus’ accusers made him feel bitter and resentful. But Zacchaeus’ sins made him feel guilty and ashamed.

After stopping and noticing Zacchaeus and calling him by name, Jesus did the most shocking thing of all: He invited himself to the home of the worst guy in the city of Jericho.

Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would be filled with guilt and shame and would never think himself worthy enough to have Jesus in his home.

And still, the Bible says, “When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5 NCV).

Because you and I are human beings, we’ve all done things that we’re ashamed of. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV). 

But Jesus is more interested in changing you than condemning you. He said he didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).

No matter what you’ve done, who you’ve done it with, or how long you’ve done it, it matters more what direction your feet are headed today. 

In going to Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus was essentially telling him, “No matter what you’ve done, Zacchaeus, I want you. I want to go to your house and have dinner. I want to fellowship with you. I want to have a relationship with you.” 

God is saying that to you too. No matter how much you’ve blown it, the starting point of salvation is when you swallow your pride and admit you need God’s help.

Sure, you’ve made mistakes along the way. But you haven’t lost one cent of your value to your Creator.

Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants to come to your house and have dinner. He’s standing at the door of your life and knocking. He says, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV). 

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Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.