Where is Our Door?

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

WHERE IS OUR DOOR?

1 Cor 16:5-9

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you — for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

NIV

Some personal notes, but even within these there are a couple of truths that stand up and scream to be seen. The first is not such a big deal, although if one of our friends came to visit and stayed the winter maybe it would be a big deal. Perhaps our cultures are such a great style apart that our one to two hour or even a day visit is the same as staying the winter when on a journey. Either way it is important to note we should spend time with each other, unless God has another plan for us. The second truth is of great importance as we should be able to implement it even in this strange new cultural of ours. We should be extremely aware of where we are, and why we are there. So many people choose their living place based on the opportunities to make money, and then become very selective within that area based on the school districts, the cost of homes, the proximity of shopping etc.  We may also select a church to attend, not on proximity but on either our denominational preference, or where we fill we fit in, blend in, or simply like the style of worship. For the most part many if not all of these choices are based on our human needs or desires. Perhaps we should consider just where God desires us to be. Maybe we should be basing our living locations on where a great door for effective work is open to us, especially where we might face a lot of opposition. Of course we know this is not work for our human benefit, but work for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. Even in our choice of churches to attend, we tend to what to blend, and not be faced with opposition, but what if God desires us to be there so we might bring the truth. Even in churches that preach the truth, there are many who prefer tradition over truth. Although “Shaking the boat” may be consider a bad thing by some, it appears God “Shakes our boat” a lot. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about doing the will of God then appeasing a few stick in the muds? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about spreading the truth of God then staying on the same course with those who refuse to set their sails toward it? We need to know where God has called us to be, and then go about doing what He has called us to do, no matter what kind of opposition we might face. Sure it might be nice to have a good reputation among men, but it is far better to have a great reputation among the trinity. Should we compromise who God has made us to be, for the sake of being liked? No matter what we face, we should be and do what God has called us to. Where is our door?