September 1
Is the Door Open?
Matthew 22 - 23
Matthew 23:13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
JESUS lays it out very directly to the Pharisees. He doesn’t like the way they act. He doesn’t like what they say. They do not show God truly to the people they lead. They delight in their appearance and importance. They are men of “themselves”, not men of God. Their actions, in effect, shut the door to the Kingdom of Heaven.
We easily condemn the Pharisees, too. But let’s consider, “How might I shut the Kingdom door?” Perhaps I don’t love people as God does. Or perhaps I’m too willing to let people stay in their sin. Or perhaps I flaunt my salvation, proudly saying, “I’m saved!” and do not offer the Gospel to people who haven’t heard it.
God will have his way, and he will bring into his kingdom whomever he chooses. Make no mistake.
But be joyful that your Lord Jesus invites you to join him in that work. It is a joy to work with God, to introduce people to his love, to see lives change, to open the Kingdom door and to watch people come through the Kingdom door.
What might you be doing to open the Kingdom door? Seek the Lord’s counsel in his Word. Listen to his teachings. Step forward in faith. Swing wide open the door of life!
Pause and Consider: how good it feels when someone opens a door for you.
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