Jesus holds the keys to an open door and this is the salvation door but it is also the door of opportunity.
“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.” (Revelation 3: 7-8)
Jesus calls the Church to see, to look, behold! An open door of opportunity!
But open doors are not free of problems. Paul writing from a Roman Jail doesn’t pray to be released from prison but instead asks his Colossian friends to “pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah “(Colossians 4.3). He was in prison with all of its restrictions but he wanted an open door, not to be free of problems but to be able to preach.
Jesus can see the Philadelphia church have ‘little strength’ for they no doubt have felt the pressure of being in the minority. Within themselves they could not do it. Isn’t that so true of us? Whether that is our own personal witness, evangelism or planting a new church, what is ahead of us is greater than our human resources. We may feel restricted in so many ways. We may wish things be better so that we can move into these open doors of opportunity.
But with Jesus we have all that we need and that is the point He is making to the church.
See! What is the open door of opportunity placed before you today? Is it your family? Your neighbours? Work? Further afield? Wherever and whatever it is you will never feel strong enough, you will always feel weak and that is how it is meant to be. But with Him we can make it we can go through the open door of opportunity.
Missions Paul 