Monday, December 25, 2006
Look for the Open Door
Have you had someone hold a door open for you lately? It sure feels nice, doesn't it? You probably walked right through while saying a polite 'thank you,' and maybe you even smiled. How would it feel if you held a door open for someone, but they just looked at you and said "no thanks, I'll take this other door." Maybe they don't even notice you holding a door open for them. Maybe they completely ignore you.
Did you know Jesus wants to hold the door open for you when you are facing any temptation, including the temptation to overindulge your appetite? Paul reminds us of this in Corinthians.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV.
Jesus is ready to show us the way to resist the temptation. He can help us get away. He will open the door and show us the way out of temptation. I'm sad to say I didn't look for the door during our family gathering this Christmas. The spread of food before me included so many treats, cookies, candies, pies, I was mesmerized by it all and gave into the temptation to overindulge. Looking back, I know that Jesus was there ready to hold the door open for me, ready to show me the way out of the temptation. He held the door open, but I didn't look for it.
When faced with temptation, we must look for the open door Jesus is providing. He opens the door, but he does not shove us through it. He has given us the gift of choice, and He won't take that away.
As I head into the new year, I'm resolving to look more often for the door Jesus is holding open when I'm tempted to eat too much junk food, or lose my patience, or any other temptation. My prayer is that I will always look for and take the door He is holding open. His ways are so much better than my ways.
How about you? In 2007, will you look for the open door with me?
Did you know Jesus wants to hold the door open for you when you are facing any temptation, including the temptation to overindulge your appetite? Paul reminds us of this in Corinthians.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV.
Jesus is ready to show us the way to resist the temptation. He can help us get away. He will open the door and show us the way out of temptation. I'm sad to say I didn't look for the door during our family gathering this Christmas. The spread of food before me included so many treats, cookies, candies, pies, I was mesmerized by it all and gave into the temptation to overindulge. Looking back, I know that Jesus was there ready to hold the door open for me, ready to show me the way out of the temptation. He held the door open, but I didn't look for it.
When faced with temptation, we must look for the open door Jesus is providing. He opens the door, but he does not shove us through it. He has given us the gift of choice, and He won't take that away.
As I head into the new year, I'm resolving to look more often for the door Jesus is holding open when I'm tempted to eat too much junk food, or lose my patience, or any other temptation. My prayer is that I will always look for and take the door He is holding open. His ways are so much better than my ways.
How about you? In 2007, will you look for the open door with me?
# posted by Karen Whitson @ 9:16 PM 
