Opening Doors for Ourselves & Others

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Doors serve one of two purposes. They make us feel safe inside or make us feel shut outside. Whether you feel safe or shut out depends on which side of the door you’re standing. It’s nice to be welcomed with a smile but it can hurt deep down to have a door shut in your face (or on your fingers for that matter). Those of us who have had that happen know what an open door means to us.

Events and experiences occurring today have made many of us want to draw in, close the door and shut ourselves off from the world. Sometimes it’s difficult to open up when others are closing you down.

I regret to say I’ve often let struggles shut me off and cause me to withdraw while shutting the door on old and new friends alike. During those times, it not only felt wrong, I was miserable every step of the way.

Hiding Behind Closed Doors

Comfort can be found hiding behind the safety and solace of our doors. They give privacy and protection from weather, intruders, harm, and those who get on our nerves. Ironically, we don’t fancy others closing their doors to us because shut doors isolate and separate.

Hiding keeps us sheltered and secure or keeps things secret and out of sight. When we take cover behind closed doors, we are usually trying to find peace, protect ourselves or prevent someone from seeing us for who we are or what we are doing.

Unlocking Our Doors

However, to be hospitable, we have to be willing to unlock our doors. It’s hard to be a good family member, friend and neighbor and enjoy productive and profitable lives hiding behind locked doors. Allowing others in takes trust and removing the locks.

Opening Doors for Others

It also takes prayer, practice and patience, lots of patience, to accept the position of the doors in our lives and to know when and how to open them for others. Followers of Jesus are given specific instructions regarding opening doors through the means of hospitality in Romans 12:13-18:

• “…Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
• “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
• “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
• “Be of the same mind one toward another.
• “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
• “Be not wise in your own conceits.
• “Recompense to no man evil for evil.
• “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
• “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Jesus has opened more doors for us than we deserve and is much more gracious to us than we are to ourselves and others. The least we can do is open the doors of our hearts and homes and pay it forward in hospitable ways.

Bring It Home

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC