A SLICE OF APOSTOLIC LIFE "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." (2 Cor 2:12-14)
Devotion 9 of 24
" . . . and a door was opened unto me of the Lord . . . "
Other versions read, "by the Lord" (NKJV), "in the Lord (NASB), and "the Lord opened the door" (NIV).
The differing translations place an emphasis on various aspects of this expression.
1. "Of the Lord" – Here the government of the Lord Jesus is emphasized: His Kingship. The open door came through His Sovereign will, and according to His good pleasure.
2. "By the Lord" – Here the actual doing of the thing is emphasized. Jesus Himself did this, working in concert with Paul, whom He had personally commissioned.
3. "In the Lord" – Here the emphasis is placed on the role of Paul himself in the whole matter. The door was opened while Paul himself was in the process of walking in the light, serving the Lord, and intending to do His will.
Among those who are cognizant of spiritual realities, there is no question about the Lord Jesus governing the Kingdom of God. However, there are varying opinions as to how He does this, particularly in regard to the involvement of men in the working of His will.
1. Some are of the opinion that all of Christ's decisions are carried out arbitrarily – in a manner that appears to be random, and without discretion. His workings, therefore, are largely undetected by those living in this world. Those embracing this view look at things from a fatalistic point of view; i.e. whatever will be, will be. They therefore disengage their own hearts and minds from the will of the Lord, leaving everything to take place in a sort of automatic way. This is not a proper assessment of the case.
2. Others consider the will of God to be strictly contingent upon human decision. Men's decision to engage in the will of the Lord is strictly their own. They have a mind and the Bible, and that is enough. Those embracing this view will say something like this: "If we do not go to the heathen with the Gospel, they all will be lost." They are not prone to pray that the Lord will send forth laborers into His harvest, as Jesus enjoined (Matt 9:38). This also is an erroneous and damaging view.
THE REAL SCENARIO
In reality, salvation calls the individual into involvement in the will and purpose of God. This is referred to as being called "into the fellowship" of His Son (1 Cor 1:9), being "workers together with God" (1 Cor 3:9), and participating in the Divine nature (2 Pet 1:4).
In salvation, God begins to work within His people "both to will and to do of His own good pleasure" (Phil 2:12). The involvement of the "WILL" confirms this is a conscious involvement. The DOING of it emphasizes that it is an effective involvement. God is not moving the saved about like pawns on the chessboard of Divine purpose. While it is true that He often works in this manner with the heathen, He does not do so with those who are in His Son.
It is ONLY to the extent that we maintain the "communion of the Holy Spirit" (2 Cor 13:13), fellowship with Christ (1 Cor 1:9), and the knowledge of God (Heb 8:11), that we are profitably involved in the Kingdom of God! Those who rely upon being struck down forcibly in order to holy involvements, are not right in such thinking. Those who imagine that God will pry their mouth open like that of Balaam's donkey, and cause His words to flow like refreshing water out of it, could not possibly be more wrong. Such views contradict both the nature and intent of God's great salvation, even though they are quite common in our time.
Let us have done with the notion that there is any real benefit in being used by God, yet not being aware of it. I do not deny that such a thing is possible, but I emphatically deny that such usage is a blessing, or that it is the Kingdom norm.
Allow me to state the case once again. It is while we are in the process of living by faith that we are directed by the Lord! It is while we are aware of the Lord that He speaks to, and directs us. It is while we are walking in the light that He shows us the way of our involvement in what He is doing. It is while we are "looking to Jesus" that He guides us with His eye. Some examples will suffice to buttress this point.
1. The day of Pentecost came while the disciples were gathered together with one accord in one place, waiting for the promise of the Father (Acts 2:1).
2. Peter received his direction to go to the Gentiles while he was praying (Acts 10:9).
3. While the early brethren were ministering to the Lord, the call to separate Barnabas and Saul was received (Acts 13:2).
4. Remember, John received the extensive Revelation of Christ's kingly activities, and the ultimate outcome of all things, while he was "in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Rev 1:10).
If this assessment is correct – and it surely is – then those who choose to live at a distance from the Lord, enamored of the things of this world, and with their minds pinned to the earth, have, by that very posture, excluded themselves from profitable involvement in the will of the Lord. Whatever you may choose to think about the future of such people, I must confess to you that it looks rather dismal. If God does not work in men here, there is no promise of them being with Him there.
JESUS HAS THE KEYS
The door before Paul was opened "of the Lord" – that is, the door was opened by the Lord Jesus, who is presently administering the Kingdom. In delivering the message of Jesus to the church in Philadelphia, a holy angel said: "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth" (Rev 3:7).
This word refers to a Messianic prophecy delivered by Isaiah: "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder; so He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open" (Isa 22:22). Speaking of the extent of His use of this "key," Jesus Himself said, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev 1:18). That is, with this key he will release all who are in "hell," or "Hades" (NKJV), the abode of spirits, and "death," or the grave which retains the bodies of the dead.
The glorified and exalted Christ has the authority to create opportunities – to open doors where it is impossible from any other point of view, and to close them as well, even when they seem impossible to close. He can, in fact, "make a way in the wilderness" (Isa 43:19), a "path in great waters" (Psa 77:19), and "a way in the sea" (Isa 43:16). The knowledge of this causes hope to abound. It increases the strength of the inner man, and pushes discouragement into the background.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the Captain of our salvation.
-- Tomorrow: