I learned from an early age that if I wanted to
get something that was on the other side of a closed door, I had to reach out
and grab the door knob, turn it and open the door. There were also those times
when I had my hands full and I couldn't open the door by myself so someone had
to HELP me open the door.
The same principle applies to our life and the
way that we witness. I've prayed for many years that "God would open the
doors of opportunity for me" to be able to witness to unsaved family
members and friends. Even the Apostle Paul asked the church at Colossia to pray
the same thing for them:
Colossians 4:2-3 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with
thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a
door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am
in prison-- (ESV)
But, how many times in our lives have we had
those doors of opportunity open for us and we never took the time to walk
through them. Or we sit there and try to reason with ourselves, "Is that
God telling me to do that or is it just me? Is the devil telling me to witness
so I'll look stupid when I'm rejected?" For one thing, the devil is NEVER
going to tell you to witness to someone! And if we have the opportunity,
then it's definitely the Holy Spirit prompting us to share God's love, so we
must walk through that open door!
But on the other hand, why wait for the door to
open? Yes, the person on the other side of that door has to make a choice
whether or not to open the door to you, but the good news is, the door has a
handle on BOTH sides! In Acts 14:27, Paul and Barnabas were traveling back to Antioch after a successful missionary
journey. When they returned home and got together with the other believers in
the church, they shared with them about their journey and how God had used them
to open doors of faith to the lost.
Thoughts to ponder:
- God is using us today to open up doors of faith and encouragement to those in need.
- We are God's hands and His feet to the lost and dying world.
- It’s time we stop using the excuse that "the door just didn't open" or "I didn't have the opportunity".
- If you feel like your hands are just too full to open the door, then get someone to help you!
- We have opportunities every day to evangelize to the lost and we sit and stare at the door knobs, waiting for them to turn on their own, or waiting for the person on the other side of the door to open it!
- The person on the other side of that door could be getting ready to take their last breathe, die, and go to Hell.
- Reach out and grab that door knob, turn the handle and walk on through. God is giving us the opportunity, what are we waiting for?
Remember, not all doors (or doorknobs) are the same. Some are older and require gentle hands to open them. Some are newer and open right up with no problem. Either way, it's exciting to see what waits on the other side of the open door.
A prayer for us today:
"Father God, I pray today that you will fill
us with your Spirit afresh and give us the boldness that we need as sons and daughters of
God to turn the knob and open the door of opportunity. Let us be the light and
salt that you've called us to be. Whether it's at home with our kids & spouse,
at the grocery store, on our jobs, or wherever the road of life takes us, let
us be bold enough to open the doors and walk on through. In Jesus' name,
amen!"
As always, go with God and God will go with you!
Until next time,
Debbie Davis
One Blessed Chicky
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