The open door
‘I know what you have done; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close. Listen! As for that group that belongs to Satan, those liars who claim that they are Jews but are not, I will make them come and bow down at your feet. They will all know that I love you.’ (verses 8, 9)
Read Revelation 3: 7-13
The all-seeing God knows the hearts and lives of his people. Unlike the Christians in Sardis, where many were falling away from the faith, the Christians in Philadelphia remained faithful to God and firmly held on to the teachings that they had received. God knew all the things they were doing in spite of difficulties and hardships, and he gave them a great word of encouragement: ‘I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close’. Even those people who opposed them and told lies about them would have to admit that God was at work among them.
God does not forsake those who believe in him and who try to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus. He does more than that; he sets before them an open door, which no-one can close. This is the promise with which the church moves forward and faithfully seeks to carry out the great missionary command of Jesus.
There is an open door before the Christian church today. The good news about Jesus can be proclaimed by word of mouth, by a loving and caring life, by radio waves, television and the internet. Great things are happening, because the door is open. Of course, there are those who try to shut the door and make it difficult for Christians. But God is with his faithful church, and he will continue to build his kingdom in this world until the great day when Jesus returns and all will see him and bow down before him. The question always is: am I being a faithful instrument through which the Holy Spirit is working?
Lord thank you for the open door which you have placed in front of your church. Help me to be your faithful servant in moving forward with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
by Kevin Schmidt, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2005)
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