Doors

Most of us have faced doors that were either open or shut.

What we chose at that time may have helped or hurt us.

We may have walked through large open doors 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 that required only a little effort.

At other times, shut doors created frustration that made us look elsewhere.

Some continue to bang on closed doors, hoping or believing that they'll open eventually. Matthew 7:7-8

There's a constant OPEN DOOR, an open gate for each of us.

So He [Jesus] said to them again,

"Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the gate. 

If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture." John 10:7-9

JESUS: DOOR OPENER and CLOSER

You may have a large social network.

Your connections may provide open doors.

Others are alone.

It's sad to think of those who don't have family, friends, coworkers, or classmates that they can open their hearts to.

The Lord Jesus Christ can be there for us, no matter who we are. Hebrews 4:14-15

"To the angel [messenger, leader] of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of the One Who is holy and true, Who holds the key of David.

What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut.

For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name." Revelation 3:7-8

If we think about our lives, how many doors has He opened or shut for us?

Were there open door opportunities set before us for jobs and relationships?

Did He close doors because they wouldn't have been His best for us had they opened?

He works to deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13; John 17:11-12, 15

HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR Proverbs 18:12

His open doors are part of His way to exalt us in due time AFTER we humble ourselves under His mighty hand. James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6 

When He opens doors, 1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Colossians 4:3-4 we need to walk through them.

He does His part and we do ours.

Working together with Him, 2 Corinthians 3:4-6; 5:20; 6:1 perhaps this is how a person's gift will make room for them and bring them before great people.

A man's gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men. Proverbs 18:16

SHUT DOORS TO SIN

There are some things that we do that can get us entangled in sin. Hebrews 12:1

We aren't paying attention to walk in the light of His word. Psalm 119:105; 1 John 1:7

Some make plans, even if first only in their thoughts, to give in to sinful desires. Romans 13:11-14

Others go deeper and present parts of their bodies as instruments of wickedness. Romans 6:13

Paul and Timothy 2 Corinthians 1:1 prayed for a church,

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. 2 Corinthians 13:7 

We can also pray for ourselves and others Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1 that we and they don't enter into temptation to sin. Matthew 6:13; 26:40-41; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

As the Lord Jesus Christ already prayed -- 

"I [Jesus] am not asking that You [God the Father] take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one." John 17:15

"I [Jesus] am not asking on behalf of them [His first disciples] alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message," John 17:20 which would be us, too. Matthew 28:18-20

"Father, please shut doors to weights I'm not to carry and to sins. Thank you very much." Hebrews 12:1

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight,

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

KNOCKING

To some religious people, the Lord Jesus Christ told them,

"You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. 

These are the very words that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life." John 5:39-40

They were to come to Him as the bread of life John 6:35 and the water of life. John 7:37

To others who had become believers, He pointed out their bad spiritual condition. Revelation 3:15-17

Then, He reminded them of His love. Revelation 3:18-19

Jesus came and stood at the door of their hearts, waiting for them to open to Him.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20

Let's open to the King of Glory Psalm 24:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:8 and watch what doors He opens and closes for our benefit.

Your thoughts?

R. Jason