Standing at the Door: A Lesson from a Goat
This weekend gave me plenty to reflect on. On Friday, we had the adventure of wrangling a neighbor’s cow that had wandered into our backyard. By Sunday morning, I thought things would settle down—but when we arrived at church, there it was: a goat, standing right at the church door.
At first, I couldn’t help but laugh. A cow on Friday and a goat on Sunday? What are the odds? But as I looked at the goat standing there, as if waiting to be let in, I felt God pressing something deeper on my heart.
The Goat at the Door
That goat wasn’t lost in the woods like the cow had been. It had found its way to a place of safety—a door it instinctively knew would lead to shelter. But it couldn’t open the door on its own. It was waiting for someone to notice, someone to let it in.
I couldn’t shake the image of the goat at the church door, because it reminded me of people in our lives who are spiritually searching. They may not be lost in the same sense as the cow, but they’re standing at the door, waiting for someone to open it.
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” This verse speaks to the intimacy of God’s relationship with us—His desire to enter into our lives and share fellowship with us. But it also challenges us as believers: Are we opening doors for others? Are we inviting them in and pointing them to Jesus?
Seeing the Ones Who Wait
The goat reminded me that God places people in our lives who are ready to come in—they’re waiting for an invitation, for someone to notice them, to care, and to show them the way.
But how often do we walk past those standing at the door? Maybe they don’t look like us or fit into our plans for the day. Maybe we’re too busy or distracted to stop and see them.
Jesus saw people differently. When He looked at the crowds, He didn’t see interruptions—He saw their need. Matthew 9:36 says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
The question I’ve been wrestling with since Sunday is this: Do I see the people God places in my path? Am I willing to pause, open the door, and welcome them in?
That goat standing at the church door wasn’t just a funny story—it was a lesson. A reminder that God is always working, always drawing people to Himself, and often asking us to be part of the process.
So let me ask you: Who in your life might be standing at the door, waiting for you to notice? It might be a neighbor, a coworker, or even a stranger who crosses your path this week. Are you ready to open the door, to invite them in, and to point them to Jesus?
Because here’s the truth: Just like that goat, people are searching for safety, belonging, and hope. And God is calling us to be His hands and feet, to welcome them in, and to show them His love.
Who might be standing at the door in your life, waiting for you to invite them in? How can you open the door for someone searching for Jesus this week?
Lord, thank You for the reminders You give us through everyday moments. Help us to see the people standing at the door, waiting for someone to notice and care. Give us the courage to open those doors, to welcome them in, and to reflect Your love in all we do. Amen.
