Week 14, Day 1: Doors of Opportunity

Today’s Reading:  2 Corinthians 2:1-3:18

Some thoughts from Friday’s reading…

In 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, Paul told the Corinthian brethren that he would stay in Ephesus a while longer because a “great and effective door” had been opened up to him.  But, he went on to say that there were also many adversaries.  There were great opportunities opened up to Paul, but with them came those who were his adversaries–those who tried to keep him from being successful.  This was a pattern that we see constantly throughout the New Testament.  Almost every place that Paul went, there were people who served as his “adversaries”, working diligently to hinder his work.

How often do we become discouraged because it seems that there are people, or circumstances that seem to keep us from being as successful as we would like to be?  The truth is that we will face the same challenges that Paul faced.  There is never going to be an opportunity to spread the gospel open up without there being something that will try to hinder it.  Why is that?  Because Satan will never give up without a fight!  He is never going to let anyone go from his kingdom without first trying to do all he can to stop it from happening.  So, with every door of opportunity, there will also be challenges, or adversaries that surface!

Paul knew that this was always going to be the case, and yet he continued to serve God and teach others until the very end of his life.  How was he able to do that?  How did he keep from becoming discouraged?  I am sure that there were times that even Paul became discouraged by his adversaries, and yet he always bounced back.  I believe he was able to do that because of his focus on the eternal goal.  He always knew where he was headed, and that made it possible to get past whatever hindrance might arise.  His adversaries could never take away his eternal focus.

We need to have the very same focus that Paul had.  We should look for each and every opportunity, and walk through those doors that are opened.  But, never be deceived into thinking that the opportunities will come without challenges.  There will always be adversaries, and yet they should never be able to make us stop working for the Lord.  If we see the doors, and walk through them, we will certainly be effective tools in the Lord’s kingdom.  What else would we want to be?