Opening the Door of Grace
Today’s tip: “Open the door for every person.”
Brother Paul was a kind, sweet, compassionate man and always thoughtful of the needs of others. He was also a servant at heart, which shows in every one of these lessons that he taught and lived by.
Like Brother Paul, our current preacher, Brother Connor, puts a lot of emphasis on receiving and living out God’s grace. Opening the door for everybody is one way to express that grace. What I’ve noticed, and what our preacher, Brother Connor emphasized is that there is a difference between men and women when it comes to opening doors and how we respond to that.
First of all, Brother Connor said, men should always open the doors for ladies. That is just common courtesy, and is definitely a southern tradition. Ladies will generally accept this from a man and will let them hold the door open. They like and deserve to be treated royally, like a queen or princess and graciously accept the offer.
Guys, on the other hand, will usually “help” in some way when the door is held open for them. Either we will say “I got it. Thanks anyway” or maybe we’ll put a hand, a foot, or even a little finger on the door, something to say that “I’m independent. I don’t need your help. I can do this on my own.”
Therein is the rub, guys, when it comes to the grace of God. If we do anything to try to help God save us, to rescue us from our sins, we are cheating grace. Its like we are trying to add to what Jesus did for us on the cross. It’s not Jesus plus something. Its just Jesus. We can totally trust what Jesus did on the cross, dying for our sins, and offering to give us eternal life with him.
Rev. 3:8 says “I know your works. I have set before you an open door, which no man can shut …”.
So men, and ladies, how is it with your soul? Have you opened your heart’s door to Jesus, to receive Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, then now is the time to do that. Just ask Him; If so, then let Him work in your life and fill your life with His grace as you walk with Him and share that grace with everyone.
I know that Brother Paul would agree, and would ask you; “Do you know Jesus?”
