The Open Door

So much is said about doors being opened and closed. Generally speaking,when we see a clear path to an objective, we say that a door has been opened and when we see obsticle piled up between us and that objective, we say the door has been closed. 

However, it seems to me that we too often judge the opening and closing of a door by the outcome of our attempts to pick the lock rather than trust in God to have already made a way. 

What I mean by this is we choose the door of the opportunity we want and begin to turn the knob, jiggle the handle, look for an open window, try sliding a credit card between the bolt and the door jam. And, finally, we give up saying the door has been closed 

But the problem may be that we are missing the door altogether. Jesus said, "I am the gate [door]; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture" (Jn 10:9).  That being so, who can open or shut that Door?  The answer: "What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open" (Rev 3:7). 

So, what does this mean?  When we truly begin to "seek first the Kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33), we start seeing an open door to all kinds of opportunities for ministry and service. Those opportunities may not coincide with our life plan or career path, but they are open doors for life and ministry. 

Imprisoned in Rome, it appeared that the door to Paul's evangelism was shut, but look at what happened while he was under guarded house-arrest: "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ---with all boldness and without hindrance! (Acts 28:30-31). 

Like Paul, when from human perspective a door looks shut, it simply may be opening in a different way. From God's perspective, Paul was right on target. Perhaps we need to reset our sights to align with God's rather than get Him to see it our way. Jus' Sayn.