A Door in the Lord
Just like a motion-sensor door opens in the right position, the door of gospel fruitfulness opens as we remain in Christ.
📚 Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
📸 Photo Credit: Unsplash
The Apostle Paul saw a door opened in the Lord—not merely circumstantially, but spiritually aligned with Christ’s indwelling presence and the message of the gospel. E. Stanley Jones reminds us that staying centered in Christ and proclaiming His gospel keeps the door open. But when we drift into distractions—controversies, secondary doctrines, or even judgmental attitudes—the door narrows.
Satan’s strategy isn’t always blatant opposition. Sometimes, it’s simply many things instead of One Thing. The enemy doesn’t mind if we’re passionate and active, as long as Christ is pushed to the margins. We may be wrapped in religious activity, but miss the open door of power and fruitfulness if the gospel no longer sits at the center.
And the warning is sobering—whole churches, ministries, and individuals may have a calling full of promise, yet be sidetracked into arguments or self-righteousness, forfeiting the wide door the Lord once held open. The call is clear: abide in the Lord, keep the gospel central, and stay free of distractions that feel spiritual but shift the focus away from Christ Himself.
📓 Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
I have not made your ministry complicated, beloved. The open door is not hidden; it is found in Me. You don’t need to strive to create it or fear that it will vanish if you’re walking with Me. My calling is not about the spotlight or the side debates—it is about abiding in the Vine and proclaiming the life found in My Son.
Remain in Christ, and the path will stay open, even when others see it as closed. The Adversary knows how to cloud the way—not by slamming doors, but by getting your gaze to drift from the One who opens them. If he can fill your mouth with a thousand topics, he’ll keep your heart from resting in the One truth that brings life.
Stay in Me, and you will know where to stand, when to speak, and what to proclaim. The gospel is not just your message; it is your life. Let nothing else take its place.
Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 3:1–4; Galatians 2:20; John 15:4–5; Revelation 12:10; Luke 11:53
🔍 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like standing at a motion-sensor door in a supermarket—when you’re in the right place, the door opens without effort. But step to the side, and it stays shut. The door responds not to waving or yelling, but to quiet presence in the right spot. Likewise, the door God opens responds to our positioning in Christ—not performance, not arguments, not titles—just abiding.
🙏 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that You’ve already placed me in Christ and positioned me before an open door—not by merit but by grace. I rejoice that as I rest in Him and proclaim His life, I do not need to force outcomes or chase opportunities. You are the One who opens and no one can shut. Today I walk in the simplicity of that trust, keeping Christ at the center and letting all other distractions fade into the background.