Good Morning Friends,
My wife tells me that science now has discovered that we forget things when we walk through a doorway. I cannot explain it, but I believe she is right. Maybe that is a good reason to put up mezuzahs at the door of one’s home. Related to this on the January morning we see how God opens and shuts doors and produces amazing and immediate results when the timing is right related to the divine plan. The Holy Spirit makes success out of what some call failures. And it happens when the focus is on God. More specifically we see how Jesus guides the disciples to follow and learn how to catch people for the Kingdom. They had hardly a clue what they were getting into, but they followed right then and there. A true act of faith. But friends, when our prayers shift from something selfish to something special for the community of those who believe, good things happen. God’s mercy eventually prevails. We however need patience and trust. Jesus is knocking and calling. Are Your Doors Open And Waiting To Catch The Spirit Of A Relationship?
Scripture: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Hebrews 1: 1-6 (NRSV)
The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him. Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Psalm 97: 1-9 (NRSV)
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John 21:1-14 (NRSV)
A week later his disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
John 20:26-29 (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!
Matthew 7:7-11 (NRSV)
Message: It is good to have a Spirit of expectation, but have you ever wondered where you get if from. People get frustrated when they do not have any fruit to show for their lives…no fish…broken nets…no children. People desire a legacy. And sometimes we have to ask God to birth in us a solution. We have to hear a word from God and to put that word into action believing that God has already prepared us for the task at hand…. thanking God in advance before it happens, realizing that we are not in charge. Still, we need to live our lives confidently as a prayer already answered. You see when we step out in faith good things can happen. The disciples in today’s Gospel reading took a risk. In Mark 1 Jesus was calling fishermen from the beach to become fishers of people and He would remind them of this purpose after He had died and rose from the dead. Once again, he would call from the beach. John 21 recounts that story of breakfast with Jesus and the second calling where He guides us to cast our nets one more time after a long night without a catch. He does this, so we might know His abundance and return to the task for which we have been called. Yes, we are to be followers of Christ and fishermen for His Kingdom…. casting our nets so others might also be captured by the amazing love of God. In time the disciples would become very effective fishers of people. At the foundation of this outcome is the love of God and grace and forgiveness manifested in the power of the Holy Spirit. But we also need a patience in waiting until the time is right for things to happen God’s way. There is a time and a season for everything. Sometimes we have to wait because the door is closed. But when the time has fully come God sends forth his Son calling you to follow. The call to Simon and Andrew and James and John is not to them alone, or even to their successors, exclusively. The call to evangelize belongs to all of us. We all are commanded by Jesus to “fish humans” so that they can be saved, adopted sons and daughters of the Father. From time to time, we all will stand at a door someone needs to have opened. The symbolism here is deep. In Exodus the door, marked by the lamb’s blood, is a protection. In Deuteronomy, the people are told to write the story of God’s acts on their doorposts and gates, in order to remember to teach them to their children. Later, speaking through His prophets, the Lord talks about a “door of hope” but also exclaims in anger that doors will be filled with rubble and that the cities will be destroyed. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to knock at the door, but also warns that the door will someday close and shut out the unprepared. James warns us that the Judge is at the door. We do not have forever to decide. And finally, in Revelations, it is He who knocks at our doors, and waits for us to let Him in. This morning I am meditating about the spiritual doors of life related to evangelism and this process of deciding whether or not to walk through them. So, what are we to do when we are confronted with an open door? How do we handle a closed door? Who controls the doors of life? I believe what the Bible reveals about the doors of life can help us all in our walk with Jesus and grasp who is responsible for the doors of life. Friends, the open and shut doors of our lives have the ability to change the course of our lives. And much of it is a matter of the heart.
And So, if you find a closed door, ask Jesus to open it. But if He does not, then do not fight it. Be patient. Try asking the Holy Spirit why the door is closed and try listening to the response. Sometimes, when God wants to bring the very best, He might shut out the inferior from coming to you. He might deny you of certain job because of a bigger one He has for you. God might close doors on some relationships in order to bring you into a better relationship that will turn your life around and glorify God. He might stop your preferred opportunities from manifesting because He has opened doors for you elsewhere. Barrenness does not have to do only with childbearing. One may be barren in ministry, academically, financially, professionally, materially, socially, psychologically, politically, and worse of it all, spiritually. We have to be willing to walk through the door God is calling us to so we might be fruitful for the Kingdom. Maybe as you are reading this, there are judgmental people around you who have concluded that nothing good can ever come out of you. But God says to hold on it is not over yet. Do not give up. God has the final say over your life and situation. He has not written the last chapter of your life’s book yet. Your miracle can still happen. God is still in the business of miracles and surprises. So do not second guess God. Sometimes, God closes a door because He has hidden you from the final outcome. Hold on. Sometimes, God will close doors so that we can learn to pray more and to teach us to pray strategically and precisely. Sometimes, God close doors so that we will stop trusting in the world’s agenda. You might have been given hope day after day, by the world’s soothing words of promise. Until one day you are disappointed. God close doors when you are being prepared for the task ahead. And sometimes, God closes doors so that you will wait for His time. For God’s time is the best. Now is the time for us to learn what we need to know in order to be what God wants us to be. Meditate on that and consider what God is calling you to do with the gifts you have been given and skills you can develop that can be used to glorify God. Know that we each have a purpose in the Spirit that brings us to life.
Pray we are not ashamed of our past or afraid of the future. Pray have the passion to share the Gospel. Pray we love enough to feed those who hunger for spiritual food. Pray we too are catching people for Christ. Pray we have the right motivation to evangelize. Pray we have peace in God’s plan and obedience to God’s will. Pray that we become real followers of Christ… caring for…cleansed for and committed to that which He has called us. Pray that we be convincing Christians…. worthy of the name. Pray we are no longer casual about the catch. Pray we wait for God’s timing. Pray we hold on, keep following God and when the timing is right be changed. Pray we discover that hospitality is more about opening up our hearts than our homes.
Pray we realize that we are indebted to Jesus for opening a door that had been locked. Pray Jesus opens the door of scripture- the book of life. Pray we understand that not all the Holy Spirit permits is the will of God. Pray we wait at wisdom’s doorpost eager for instruction. Pray we know the Doorkeeper! Pray we are openers of the right doors.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 