"Keep the Doors Open"

 

“Keep the Doors Open”

(Please read “Keep the Doors Locked” before this one.)

 

The late Dr. J. Vernon MeGee had a radio program called “Through the Bible” in which he taught God’s Word cover to cover over a five year period. Recordings of these studies are still being played in some areas 35 years after his Homegoing. Prior to his broadcast ministry he was pastor of the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles for 21 years. While few churches have this name all would do well to emulate what it suggests.

If the door to our house is open to you it would provide welcome, acceptance, access to our home and opportunity for fellowship. All of these qualities are taught in Scripture as to what Christ expects His church and His people to be and do. Paul commended the Galatians because they “…welcomed (him) as if (he) were an angel of God, as if (he) were Christ Jesus himself.” (Galatians 4:14). He later challenged a group of believers whom he’d never met to “Accept one another…just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7). An inspired but anonymous writer reminds us that “…by virtue of the blood of Jesus, you and I…may now have confidence to enter (i.e. have access to) the holy of holies (i.e. the very presence of God) by a fresh and living Way, which he has opened for us….” (Hebrews 10 :19-20, PH). And from Day 1 of the church the door was opened to the 3000 new believers “…to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship….” (Acts 2:42), giving opportunities for growth and service.

Paul, who joined the company of believers a bit later, continuously sought open doors to serve. After trying to move east and south (the “closed doors” described in the previous article) he was given an open door to go west into Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). From there the message of Christ spread throughout Europe. About five years later he wrote that “…a great door for effective work has been opened to me….” (1 Corinthians 16:9). And he never stopped seeking and availing himself of the opportunities presented to him.

You and I have been called of God to fulfill Jesus’ “Great Commission” to “…make disciples….” (Matthew 28:19). There are many ways (i.e. open doors) for us to carry out His desires for us as His church. So just as there’s a time and place for many things in our lives (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) there’s a time to keep doors locked as well as open. May God give us discernment to know the difference.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan