Door Number 3

Once, I went to a taping of the “Let’s Make a Deal” television show. People were dressed in elaborate costumes in the hope of being selected to vy for big prizes. At the end of the show, a contestant wagered what they had already one to pick one of three doors, hoping for the big prize.

Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The world says that faith in Jesus is foolish. But the truth is that faith opens the door for us to receive God’s grace and peace. God also grants us access to His presence and the hope of glory through faith.

Welcome

Many businesses put out the Welcome Mat for customers. Churches and service organizations say that they welcome people to take part in their services. Welcoming people is just the first stage of hospitality and can be quite self-centered. After all the business wants something from the customers that they welcome and the churches want to help others, but often for self-serving reasons.

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hospitality is making others feel welcome, comfortable, and valued. People will come to us if they feel welcomed, but they will stay with us if we make them feel valued. Let’s do more than just welcome others. Let’s help them understand that we value them as Christ has valued us.

Good Samaritan

We are all familiar with the term, “Good Samaritan”, if not the story told by Jesus in Luke 10. This story begins with a man severely beaten and robbed. The robbers leave the man by the side of the road, thinking that he is dead. A priests comes by and sees the man, but passes on the other side of the road. A religious man comes by and does the same, passing on the other side of the road. Then, a man who is despised in the culture, comes by and takes care of the man. Jesus told this story to a lawyer who had asked who is to be considered his neighbor in response to the command to love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:36-37 says, “‘Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He said, ‘The on e who showed him mercy.’ and Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.'” This story of the Good Samaritan speaks of two religious leaders who simply pass by a man injured and in need of help. But the culturally despised man stops and takes care of the injured man. Jesus said that this despised person has fulfilled God’s law to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We have compassion and mercy when the hurt that other people are suffering touches our hearts in a way that moves us to help them.

Deeper Conversations

Perhaps it is because I am an introvert, that I value the deeper conversations that I have with people over small talk. I am not really good at casual conversation, but I like to listen to people speak of how information and circumstances are affecting them in a deeper way. It is these conversations that draw me closer to others and inspire me to mature in many ways. I trust that I am also an inspiration through these conversations.

I Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Fellowship is important. It is not just spending time together with other believers, but rather the deeper involvement with each other to build each other up in the faith. We also have the honor of having been called into fellowship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in order to know Him more completely.

Seeing Beyond Our Circumstances

II Kings 6 tells the story of the war between the King of Syria and the King of Israel. The prophet, Elisha, had been warning the King of Israel about an ambush set up by the King of Syria. Frustrated, the King of Syria sent forces to surround Elisha in order to bring him to the king’s camp. Elisha’s servant saw these forces and became afraid.

II Kings 6:16-17 says, “He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Sometimes we become afraid because we don’t see all that the Lord is doing around us. Let us ask God to open our eyes to see what He is doing, so that we can remain strong in our trust of Him.

Activation

We live in a time when we can not simply choose something and then use it. Instead, we have to take the interim step of activating. Activation often includes QRcodes, phone calls, website or app visits, or some other interim process. If we are not careful, we will activate the wrong thing and incur extra costs.

Luke 1:50-52 says, “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” To fear God is to have reverent, humble obedience that seeks to please God. Pride and self-centeredness are the exact opposite of a godly fear. It is only when we have reverence and humility before God that we can fully receive His mercy. God is always rich in mercy, but often reverence and humility activate His mercy toward us.