Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Jesus speaks about being the door or the gate for the sheep – John Chapter 10 verses 1to 9 – but in the next verse this same Jesus explains that there is a thief who comes to kill and to steal and to destroy. We need to be aware of that, and know who this thief is.
If an open door is truly from God it will not contradict what God has already said in His Word. Jesus teaches – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Word will never pass away.” Matthew 24verse 35
Sometimes God shuts a door for our protection – “Then God shut the door.” Genesis 7 verse 16 – when Noah and all the animals were safely aboard the Ark – God shut the door – to protect him and his family, and the animals God had brought, from the storm.
If God removes someone from your life who is harming you – do NOT run after them!
God will open doors for me if I open doors for others – “Anyone who generously blesses others will be generously blessed. And when you refresh others, you will be refreshed yourself.” Proverbs 11verse 25 . God want to teach us to be generous – God wants to teach us how to be GIVERS – not just with money – but time and energy and talents and service. When you read the Bible GOD makes generosity a big deal – GOD is a GIVER. Many people open doors for us – they give us all kinds of opportunities – give thanks for these people.
Sometimes God opens a door to give me a glimpse of my future long before I am ready to walk through it. WHY? To inspire me to grow – to get ready for where I am going – for that destiny which God has for my life.
Joseph had dreams – Joseph had a vision – and Joseph was aware of something – but not all the details. God does not tell us all the details at the one time.
“The things that I am planning for you won’t happen right away. But slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when THE VISION will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” Habakkuk 2verse 3
Here is what I am going to do with your life – and then He tells us HOW – and very often it is the opposite to how we think He might do it – and then, of course, there is God’s timing.
We need to learn discernment – to avoid wasting time and energy and money -
“This is my prayer for you: that your love will keep growing more and more, with knowledge and greater discernment, so that you will be able to make the right choices . . .” Philippians 1verses 9,10
We have to learn courage – yes, we can learn it. Courage is doing the right thing even when we are fearful – even when we are scared of doing it – e.g. to ask for forgiveness!
King David’s advice to his son Solomon – “Be strong and courageous and get to work. Do not be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord God is with you! He will not fail or forsake you! He will see to it that everything is finished correctly.”
1Chronicles 28 verse 20 .
Fear responds to ACTION – you step into the river and the riverbed dries up. Fear does not respond to LOGIC – or to COMPLAINING.
Most people miss God’s Will and Plan and Purpose for their life because of fear. I just do not feel at peace about this – you are not supposed to feel at peace about it until you are on the other side of the door! We do not always receive the peace before we obey.
We have to learn how to open doors for other people – you will have opportunities that no-one else will have. 1Peter 4verse 9 - “Open your home to others and show hospitality without grumbling about it. Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received from God to serve others.” Remember, Peter was writing at a time when persecution of disciples of Jesus Christ was violent – just as it is today around our broken, hurting, scarred and scared world.
Open a door wherever you can – if you can.
“Loving God – in a world where there is not much love – at least not the type of love which You sent Jesus to reveal – help us wherever we can to open a door for those trapped – not just in prison – but abuse – alcohol – drugs – rejection – fear – so many broken people – so many hurt and hurting families – so many empty bellies. Give us the courage to deal with all kinds of doors when they face us and challenge us – we pray in Jesus’ name.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.