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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
How do we choose which doors we will walk through, as we make our way through life? We need models, mentors, partners, and friends – we need people to help us along the way – we have needed help since we started to walk – people who would help us when we stumbled.
Mentors teach us lessons we need to learn. Partners help us share our dreams. They see us through difficult times. Friends walk in when other people walk out!
Doors have great spiritual significance in our lives – they can be a way in, or a way out – a bridge or a barrier – it can say welcome, or you are not welcome – it can represent acceptance or rejection – a door can keep things separate from where we are. A door can be the path to salvation – and the entrance door for prayer and worship and service.
Jesus saus – “I hold the Key of David in my hand. The DOORS that I unlock and open, no one else can close. And any DOORS that I shut and lock, no one will ever be able to open. Now I know everything you have done. So look! I am placing before you AN OPEN DOOR that no one can shut! I know that you are not very strong, but you’ve kept my word and you’ve been faithful to me.” Revelation 3verses 7,8 .
This is written to the Church at Philadelphia. Jesus is going to open a door of opportunity. The Key of David is reference to Isaiah 22verse 22 . God can open doors for us – and God can close doors – we come through many doors to reach this room in our lives – and they are all different.
Does God still have doors to open in our life? How does God open doors – and why does He do this – and, what do we need to know about doors in our lives?
Every door involves a decision – Doors in the Bible is a metaphor for decisions we make – am I going to walk through that door – or am I going to walk past it? There are some doors we should walk past – and we will be grateful that we walked past certain doors. Doors are metaphors for the choices we make in every day.
My destiny will be shaped by which doors I walk past and which doors I walk through. God says: “Today I am giving you a choice. You can choose life and success, or death and disaster.” Deuteronomy 30 verse 15 .
Sometimes we walk through doors that we wish we had not walked through, and it can take time to get out. We cannot always just turn around and say SORRY, I’M OFF! Sorry wrong door! That is not always easy. Sometimes it can take years to get back on track. This is where we need discernment.
Sometimes we cannot see what is behind the doors. There are games on television where you choose a door – and behind one door there is a car – and behind the other door there may be a sweet!
A DOOR MAY BE . . . an opportunity from God – Paul wrote – “A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here.” 1Corinthians 16 verse 9 – and there is much opposition – often, both go together – opportunity and opposition.
The door could be a distraction – diverting you from God’s Will. God has a plan for our lives – but so do other people – and they want to distract us from what we may feel called to do with our lives.
Nehemiah is a good example of this struggle or battle. Nehemiah becomes one of the chief servants of the king – he hears that his home town is in difficulty – Jerusalem – the walls are broken down – he wants his city to be defended. The king notices he is sad – why are you sad – Jerusalem is in ruins. What would you like me to do for you? This is one mighty open door, and Nehemiah has prepared for this unlikely moment – he has worked it all out – in prayer.
You have my permission – and you will be supplied with the resources you need.
Nehemiah returns and he begins this big building project – but not everybody is pleased – and he faces a whole series of oppositions. If we cannot get him to stop, we will get him to delay it – come down and let us talk about it. Nehemiah had made up his mind – and he was not going to talk about things. Nehemiah realised that this was a door of distraction.
Nehemiah says – “I sent messengers to them with this reply – “I am doing an important work right now. Why should the work stop while I come down to see you?” Nehemiah 6 verse 3 . A door can be a trapdoor from Satan.
Matthew 16 verse 23 – Jesus said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are looking at things merely from a human viewpoint, not from God's.”
This is where we so need clear guidance and discernment from the Holy Spirit – and on many occasions support and encouragement from a trusted praying friend.
“Lord God Almighty – we thank You for doors and opportunities, but give us wisdom and practical friends when these moments arise and appear in our lives. May these Scriptures help us at such times. Teach is from the lessons shared by those who have gone before us. If we fall into a pit enable us to call out for help to the God who rescues and saves and raises us up – hear our praying, in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
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.
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