Throwing those doors wide open

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. (Romans 5:1-2 MSG)

Just in case there remains any question, faith isn't us making our way to God's open door - it is him opening the door for us, drawing us in, and making us feel welcome right there in his presence. We enter in, but he draws us in. We don't open the door, he does. As we enter into this relationship with him, we must open the doors of our heart, mind, and spirit to him. Any one of those areas that remain closed to him will keep us from experiencing fully the grace and love of Jesus in our lives.

We are 'set right' and 'made fit' through the work of Jesus Christ within. It isn't us making ourselves right or 'spiritually fit'. As we open our 'closed doors' to him, he enters in. God isn't going to push those doors open - we need to open them to him. Why? He gives us free will to choose where he enters, when he enters, and what he has 'access to' as he does. He doesn't want a bunch of 'robot Christians' - he desires for us to sincerely welcome him into those places that we have marked as 'ours' and 'out of bounds'.

As we open up to him, we find ourselves 'standing where we always hoped we might stand' - in those wide open spaces of his grace and his love. We might not realize just how much we want to welcome him into those places in our mind, spirit, or heart that have become tainted by sin and this world's influences until we see him 'making right' those areas in our lives once again. At that moment when we realize how much his grace has transformative power, we find ourselves opening up just a bit more, doors pushed wide open by us, not him!

Grace is gentle, but it is persistent. If we want to remain 'closed off', declaring those areas of our lives where hurts, hangups, and habits have done a number on our soul, we can do so. BUT...if we are willing to open up to him in those areas, he 'makes anew' what needs to be renewed by his love and grace. The choice to open the door is ours - what happens when we open the door is all his doing! Just sayin!