What Door Would We Like To Have Opened?
Good Morning Friends,
There are many doors in our lives. Some are keystone events. Some bring back memories of friends and family. But regardless of their importance we tend to take, at least most of them for granted. Some give us admittance, others obstruction and still others protection. How we view these doors is important for there will be days when we will feel like we cannot take another step on the journey and we will need entrance through a door we cannot open. We need to ask for help. So, today we take an honest look at doors. Those open and closed…those we have walked through and those before us. And especially we seek the one we are told that Jesus opens so we might find peace. This is no knock, knock joke. Still we want to know who is there behind the next gateway. And so, we reflect on the matter and ask, What Door Would We Like To Have Opened?
Scripture: Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.
Revelation 3:20 (NRSV)
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9 (NIV)
[The LORD] will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4 (NIV)
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:9-13 (NRSV)
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12 (NRSV)
Message: Now today’s question can be read as a reflection on regret or a contemplation on the hope of our belief, and actions glorifying and engaging God in a relationship that produces results. For honestly, we must face the reality that there is a wearing away of the door frame in the household of each of us. Here we need to remember the words in the Mezuzah on our door posts. And as we remember that we are to love God with all our heart, mind and strength, perhaps we also need to ask God to engineer our gateway to life so that our coming in and going out is not impeded by what is old, getting in the way of what is new. We can try to forestall decay and rust, but it hinges on the inevitable. We ask God to open new doors for us but miss the point. The problem is that we really do not believe that Jesus is the door for our lives. We want Him to enter our door and stop there instead of us entering His. As the handles and knobs on our doors get worn out we just seek to replace them even in our worship. But if we are lucky enough to avoid the destruction of the Temple of God in our hearts, the paint still peals, and death ultimately knocks at the door. Our body, family, community, and even our legacy all wear away. But there is another door. Here we stop fighting the divine control built into the fabric of the universe and discover that the key to protection from the decay of this life is to get a transformed life. We must choose a new door, for the door of the world only leads to destruction. Friends, when we are weary, we are to enter God’s rest. When our days of service have come to an end, we are to enter in and let God show us the door of new life. Know that Jesus is the door. And know that there are two sides to every door and with God’s grace we will find Jesus on both sides.
And So, spend time with Jesus when he knocks at your door. Spend time with God so He can help us help others to see the Jesus in them. Drink the strength and glory of relationships as part of the Body of Christ and God will open the door. You see, it hinges on whether we want Jesus to open the door to our hearts. This door opens on our willingness to respond when Jesus knocks at our door in the hope of a little of heaven coming to earth. The thing is that we must understand how the door to heaven works. Friends, there are doors of the heart we can open ourselves and some we cannot without help. The key is to allow Jesus to gain entrance when he knocks. So, today’s question is about Jesus and the most important door we will ever open. Friends, if Jesus chooses to knock on a person’s door they might need encouragement in answering the call for their heart to be opened. Know that some doors we choose, and others have been chosen for us. Open the one that leads to love and life.
Pray we seek and ask. Pray in response Jesus opens the door to our hearts. Pray we remember what is important. Pray when the time is right we enter His rest but also His work. Pray we not so much retire as become inspired. Pray we be an encouragement for other seekers. Pray we enter and never shut the open doors of opportunity, unity and service. Pray that our duties faithfully preformed lead to greater opportunities. Pray we be more than a willing vessel of temporary service. Pray we abide with Christ forever understanding that He stands at the door. Pray we accept every divine overture. Pray we open the door of our lives to Christ. Pray we pass through that door of service in community. Pray we come to the door of heaven and Christ recognizes and ushers us into His home…our home. Pray here we realize that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Pray that on the appointed day we turn to the shelter of God’s loving arms and find rest that is timeless. Pray that when we come to the doors of life we greet Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 