6.i. I have set before you an open door

Revelation 3:8  “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Colossians 4:3     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,

1 Corinthians 16:9     for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

“I have set before you an open door”.  How many times do we miss the opened door?  Why is it the door to serving Christ seems wide open to others and not you?  The open door must be seen and trusted in through faith.  It is with faith eyes that we see doors/opportunities of serving and honoring Jesus Christ in our daily walk.  “Faith is the substance hoped for and evidence of things not seen”.  Only by faith can we attest to the open door before us.  We can miss opportunities if our faiths complacent and we neglect God’s Word.  We can miss open door opportunities if our eyes have been blinded by the bright shiny things of this world.  We can miss open door opportunities if our hears are deaf to the whispers of the Holy Spirit to our soul.  We can miss open door opportunities if we are not expecting and looking for them.  Sometimes we need to wait and not try to force open a door that is closed before us.  Other times we need to walk through that door full steam ahead.  How can we know which is right, wait or walkthrough?  Faith is in-line with God’s word.  Seeking and desiring to honor and serve Jesus Christ more than self.  Praying and asking God to confirm within us to wait or walkthrough.  We must set aside our self-reliance and self-centered ways.  People would like to think that an open door from Christ will mean prosperity, ease, and life without trials and troubles.  This is not true.  Sometimes our open door is walking into a lion’s den, or facing the Red Sea, or carrying our own cross.  The thing that matters is that the door we walk through is that we are not walking through on our own.  Christ is there in all of His power and will never leave us.  He is all-knowing so there are no surprises that He is not in control of.  He is ever-present and will accomplish His plans and purposes.  Spend time thinking about how many open door opportunities Jesus Christ has given to you today to serve, honor, and glorify Him.

They forgot Me

Deuteronomy 31:20  For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.  And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”  So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.  And the LORD commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”  When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end,  Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD,  “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.  For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD.  How much more after my death!   Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.  For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”

Hosea 13:6     but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.

Our life this side of eternity has many trials, temptations, troubles, blessings, joyous moments, and precious peace.

Hope, faith, and trust in God during times of trials, temptations, and troubles yields blessings, joyous moments, and precious peace.  No one wants trials, temptations, or troubles in their life.  It is in these times that we grow in our understanding and knowledge of the awesome love and power of God.  Yet it is deep within our sinful nature to forget God, the need for God, how worthy He is of honor, glory, and praise, and soon become complacent, neglectful, and deaf to hear His whispers of guiding, purpose, love, joy, rest, peace, courage, grace, and mercy, when “they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me” .  Humble service to Him leaves our thoughts.   Seeing His creation and praising His awesome power and might is gone.

God gave us instruction on how to fight this sinful nature of complacency and neglect.   “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates,