God's Open Door of Opportunity

I am convinced that both of the following statements are true despite the apparent contradiction:   God rules the affairs of my life; and I have the freedom to cooperate or resist His will.  We are not puppets and yet we know that His purposes stand.

Let’s take a look at the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. God sends his messenger to tell her of His plan that she should bear the Savior of the world.   Could she have refused this calling?  Read  it and see what you think. "The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." ... the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." (Luke 1:28-31, NIV)  "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:38, NIV)    God opened the door to an impossibility;  Mary stepped through it. Her obedience to the plan of the Lord was difficult and raised questions for which she had no answer.   When her Son was born and shepherds showed up to tell of angels in the skies announcing that a "Savior has been born to you,” she heard them and "kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant." (Luke 2:19, CEV)

The heroes of faith in the Bible and from history unanimously tell us that responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit does not mean that all will go well, that life will be a smooth highway to Heaven’s gate.  “Living by faith,” asks much of a Christian. God, the Spirit, asks us to go beyond what we can see and know, trusting His wisdom. Some of us want all the answers, we want to see the whole course from start to finish, before we will say, “Yes, Lord.”  Did Mary understand all that would happen when she agreed to become the Mother of Jesus?  She did not. Yet, she trusted God and so must we. Sometimes all He gives us is a promise of the open door of opportunity!  Like Mary, we need to humbly say, "I am the Lord's servant!" and step through the door.   Some will say we have been impulsive.  Others will see us as bold.   Some will call us foolish, while others will praise God for our vision!   None of that matters at all if we are living in humble obedience, seeking to know and do His will from day to day. The life of the Spirit-led Christian is an adventure.  Yes, we must be accountable to those who offer wise counsel to us. It should go without saying that pride and arrogance are incompatible with living in the will of God.   

Are you ready to hear Heaven's call?  Will you say, “yes, Lord, I am your servant” when He speaks from His Word or through His Spirit?   Humility is the key.   Mary had no need to become famous, no need to be the Messiah's mother, no need to try to impress God.   She was just a peasant girl in Nazareth when God came to her and opened a door of unbelievable opportunity and she said, "Yes!"  And, oh what joy and pain she found.  The best part? She enjoyed the blessing of God.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. 
"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.
What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
I know your deeds.

See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know that you have little strength,
yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:7-8, NIV)  

_______________

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.

Daily walking, close to Thee:

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strong.

Jesus, keep me all wrong.

I'll be satisfied just as long,

As I walk, let me walk, close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Daily walking close to Thee.

Let it be, dear Lord,

let it be.