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The Door

             “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.  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. (Revelation3:7-8)

At the end of September, just before leaving for Florida, I told some friends that there was at least one couple interested in buying my trailer, and that if it sold so that I could be home by the end of October, I would know that this was all God’s will and His doing. I drove away from the trailer on October 31st. Now, if we’d been thinking and they’d given me cash instead of having to wait for the check to clear, I could have been out of there even earlier. The only reason I wasn’t home on November 1st was because I decided to visit my sister. In other words, God’s at work.

This morning was my first Sunday back at my church, and the text for the sermon included the verses above. I doubt I was the only person to whom the message was specifically directed, but it was clearly directed to me. I don’t know what the open door will lead to other than God’s glory (ultimately.) What I do know that, that it’s for my good (Romans 8:28), and that it’s certain. And I’m recording it so when I start whining, you can all say, “But didn’t you say...?”

Now, there are two tiny tidbits I need to point out. First, the open door is one that no one can shut. No one. N-O O-N-E. That means not even you or me. I used to think that God had great plans, that went awry as soon as I got involved. I don’t know that I’ve thought that recently, but it’s one of those thoughts that sometimes sneaks up on one.

The second tidbit is that Jesus says that He knew the Philadelphians had little strength. I have little strength. In fact, when I think I’m strong, I’m probably weaker than ever. But, Jesus doesn’t seem to think that matters. It seems to matter more that we use the little strength we have faithfully. 

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