Responsive

OPENING PRAYER:

Lord, if I am ever fed up, help me to turn it around so that I am filled up with a full measure of your love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

READ: Revelation 3:7-13

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:7-13

REFLECT:

Perhaps today you feel you have little strength? Maybe the past week was difficult. Jesus knows your feelings, whether of weakness or inadequacy. Rest in his love.

I visited Stormont castle in Belfast with a friend. After a long walk around the grounds, we returned to the main gates to find them firmly closed. They were too high to scale and I imagined being locked in all night. We backtracked, and after another long walk, found a tiny gate through which we could exit, somewhat exhausted.

Jesus is the one who opens and closes doors (v 7). If he opens a door, no one can close it; if he closes a door, no one can open it. In this context the door refers to a door of opportunity, for ministry and witness. God is placing before the church in Philadelphia a new opportunity to serve him.

Here is a major principle of guidance. Generally speaking, if a particular course of action or direction is God’s will, then the door will open. If it is not, then the door will remain closed and no amount of pushing will make it open. This requires us to be sensitive and responsive to God’s leading, to recognize when an opportunity is God-given. Likewise, to understand when God is closing a particular path to us and to accept that.

APPLY:

Consider any matter of guidance that concerns you. If you sense the door is open, will you take the opportunity? If it seems closed, can you accept that this is not the way for you?

I WILL STATEMENT:

I will pray every day this week for the light of Jesus to be carried all over the world.

https://pathwaychurch.com/iwill

CLOSING PRAYER:

Holy One, as I follow you, may I be attuned to open or closed doors. Open doors of salvation, service, and spiritual growth to be walked through. Closed doors of guidance not to be forced open.

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