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“Open Doors: An Invitation to Courageous Faith”
Categories: Bulletin Articles, Clay Gentry
Imagine a door swinging open, revealing an opportunity to share the gospel. Do you envision a welcoming person or crowd, eager to hear the good news? Many Christians associate “open doors” with effortless success and widespread acceptance. This optimistic view, while understandable, often overlooks a crucial reality woven throughout Scripture – “open doors” frequently lead to adversity, persecution, and even suffering. Why is this the case? Perhaps we’ve oversimplified certain verses or phrases missing the full context of their message, creating an effortless version of evangelism. Whatever the reason, it’s time to rediscover the true meaning of “open doors” in the Bible.
The Apostle Paul and the Trials of Open Doors
The apostle Paul’s missionary journeys provide a powerful illustration. After his first journey, he reported to the church in Antioch how God had “opened a door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27), but this “open door” was hardly an opportunity for ease. It came at the cost of confrontation with magicians (Acts 13:8-12), persecution from jealous Jews (Acts 13:50, 14:5), and even a near-fatal stoning (Acts 14:19).
Later, in Ephesus, a “wide door for effective work” opened to Paul, but it was accompanied by “many adversaries” (1 Cor 16:8-9). These adversaries weren’t simply people who disagreed with him; they actively sought to harm him. He described his experience in Ephesus as “fighting with beasts” (1 Cor 15:32), likely a metaphor for his brutal opposition. This opposition culminated in a riot instigated by silversmiths whose livelihood depended on the pagan temple trade (Acts 19:23-27), forcing Paul to flee.
Even in Troas, Paul experienced deep anxiety and “a troubled spirit” due to concerns for his companions “even though a door was opened for me in the Lord” (2 Cor 2:12-13). His journey continued to Macedonia, where he found no respite: “even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within” (2 Cor 7:5).
Even while imprisoned for his faith, Paul yearned for open doors. He pleaded with the Colossians to “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ... that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Col 4:3-4). Even in chains, he sought opportunities to proclaim the gospel, fully aware that these opportunities might come with further suffering.
Embracing the Challenge of Open Doors
When we pray for God to “open doors” for the gospel, we must be prepared to walk through those doors with courage and resilience. This means: Cultivating a deep faith (Col 1:9-12), Building a supportive community (2 Tim 2:22), and Developing perseverance (Rom 5:3-5).
Instead of shying away from the difficulties that often accompany opportunities to proclaim the good news, let us embrace them as a testament to the power of the gospel and the faithfulness of God. Let us pray for open doors but let us also pray for the strength to walk through them, no matter the cost.
