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
The above post was originally posted February 2014
₁Spirit Filled Life Bible, page 1876