I have been praying for an open door in a specific area of my life.  So when I read what Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Corinth it really stood out to me: “For a great and effective door has opened to me…” 1 Corinthians 16:9a

I like Paul’s description of his opened door: “great and effective.”

Effective, energes (en-er-gace);

Strong’s # 1756:  Comparable in meaning to the English word “energetic,” which stems from this word.  Energes…denotes something at work, active, and effective.  It is the opposite of argos, “idle,” “inactive,” “ineffective.”₁

This sounds like a door we would want to run through.  We often think when the door opens we will make an entrance and all will be well.  However, along with this opened door Paul said “…And there are many adversaries.”  1 Corinthians 16:9b

Wait a minute!  There are many adversaries?

His “great and effective door” opened in Ephesus and we can read his description of many adversaries in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

                ⁸ For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. ⁹ Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, ¹⁰ who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…

Is walking through your door worthy of being burdened beyond measure, above strength?  Is it worthy of despair even of life?

Many of us have longed to walk through the door…

…of marriage…of parenthood…of a career…of ministry…home ownership…of a particular dream or aspiration.

Most doors will come with adversaries – the best things in life usually do.

Let’s take on Paul’s attitude presented in verse 10 and trust God to deliver us.

What door have you walked through that presents adversaries?

 Copyright©2014, Gloria Stucky

₁Spirit Filled Life Bible, page 1876

I had a playful argument with my spouse over who was greater.  I was (and still am) convinced he is the greater person in our marriage but he argues it to be true of me.  Later in that same week he was offended by words I spoke.  I did not wake up that morning intending to use my words to sin against my husband but before I even knew what had happened the deed was done.

In response to my words, he had a few words of his own which I found to be hurtful.  Let me say it this way: I was hurt because he was offended by my sin!  This is where you can easily start agreeing with me that he is the greater person in this marriage. 

I was wounded and proceeded to emotionally pull away while trying to remain respectful.  As we traveled to church the following day I felt the elephant in the car.  We had both successfully carried this wound for an entire day.

In my Sunday school class the lesson was on the crucifixion of Christ.  The teacher skillfully walked us through the horrific details leading up to the death of Christ on the cross.  As Jesus hung on the cross He offered forgiveness to one of the robbers who hung next to Him.  My heart immediately melted when I realized I was too prideful to offer forgiveness to my husband who loves me but Christ offered forgiveness in the midst of such pain. 

I met my husband on the beach 26 summers ago and we married in the fall of that same year.  We had our first child 6 months later.  It was years into our marriage before we would both surrendered our lives to Christ and experience a transformed marriage. 

As it turns out, neither of us is greatest.  Christ continues to be the greatest One in our marriage!

 

Copyright©2014, Gloria Stucky

 

 

 

We recently celebrated my father’s 80^th birthday in Ohio and we found ourselves in the middle of a snow storm; the kind of snow that does not allow you to drive up the hilly curved driveway; the kind of icy snow that is perfect for falling flat on your back when walking back down the driveway to your car.

When my three sisters and I went out to shovel the driveway we only had two snow shovels. The plastic curved shovel was useless with the icy snow but the metal shovel would get the job done when used with much force.

It was frustrating not having enough tools for each of us. We discussed the importance of having the right tool for the job. After a few laughs (about things sisters talk about but I don’t blog about) I began to seriously think about how my life has been molded by one very specific resource – the Bible.

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The same God who spoke the world into existence speaks to me through the Bible. My life has been tremendously transformed (and continues to be transformed) by the God who has equipped me for every good work.

Are there other tools available? Yes! But they do not have the power to get to the heart of the matter.

Are you making use of this tremendous resource?

I was delighted over an opportunity to speak with a MOMS group.  I love spending time with young women but as I prepared my lesson I started feeling out of touch with mothers with young children.

Both of my children are grown.  My daughter is a mother of her own and my son is off to college. It’s been years since I woke to the cries of a little one demanding my attention.

What could I say to young moms that would have an impact?

In my morning quiet time I read chapter 34 in the book of Exodus.   God instructed Moses to chisel out two stone tablets, be ready in the morning and present himself to the Lord on the top of the mountain.  How exciting it would have been early the following morning, as Moses climbed the mountain carrying those blank stone tablets, anticipating what God was about to present.

These verses gave me great comfort in knowing that I too can present my blank tablet to the Lord.  I can take the example of Moses and enter into God’s presence anticipating a message He will write on my heart.

Moses did not come off the mountain worried about how the people would receive his message; he came down glowing from having been in the presence of the Almighty.

Whether you are preparing a message for a student, spouse, friend, co-worker, client, family member, the best thing we can do is to enter the presence of God and look to be filled with His fullness. 

The most rewarding lessons come from the overflow of what God is doing in our own lives!  He is a great teacher! 

Are you willing to get up early to climb the mountain and present your blank tablet?  

 

 “Image courtesy of “Book And Tablet” by winnond/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”

 Copyright©2014, Gloria Stucky