Matthew 7:7Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened.
Sharon and I were shopping in Costco last Friday afternoon
when Maggie from Father’s Heart Ministries texted us. She asked us to invite Roger to her healing
conference taking place that evening.
We hadn’t invited him to a service and up to this point in his new
adventure of faith. Bible studies in his
office were the only spiritual thing developing. I wasn’t sure, but I made “the ask” and to my
surprise, the response was “I will try…what’s the dress code?” So Roger showed up and sat in the front row
beside me. He was wearing a Canada belt
buckle and was greeted by Maggie who had a Canadian flag wrapped around her
waist. She was bringing a message to
inspire Christians to be mobilized, to be the hips and feet of Christ to serve
our nation. We sang the national anthem,
then worship. He clapped and leaned over
to say, “that lady sings with conviction”!
Then later after the service went on…
he asked if there was going to be an intermission… lol It went amazingly well and afterwards he was
so impressed with Maggie’s message, he asked me where did she go to school to
speak like that? I responded that she
didn’t and God gave her that ability. He still didn’t believe me. So as we reflected on the whole Canada
connection, he looked at me and said, “the Lord works in mysterious ways” to
which I wholeheartedly agree!
In John Ortberg’s latest book, he shares about the fact that
we must abandon a closed-door way of looking at God. Closed door thinking may look like prudence
or even common sense.
“ Closed door thinking
is David’s brothers telling him Goliath can’t be fought. It’s the Israelites
telling Joshua and Caleb that their enemies are like giants and the Israelites
are like grasshoppers, so they should return to Egypt and slavery. It is the Rich Young Ruler deciding that
discipleship would be nice, but it’s a little overpriced. It’s me every time I choose hoarding over
generosity or silence over speaking hard truth in love.”
I learned a long time ago to abandon common sense when it
comes to following after God and I’ve never been disappointed by those
decisions. Common sense would tell me
that Roger would never be interested in coming to an event like that. He now is interested in Sharon and I meeting
a rabbi who does a 12 step program based on the Bible…imagine that! We have
been reading through Matthew together and even some Tim Keller on “The Reason
For God”. Our conversations and Bible
study time are always animated and full of questions. It’s been a great journey and looking forward
to each new chapter.
Now, have said that it’s not easy to follow through. Often we are not really sure what will happen
when we make the big ask. However, the
truth when it comes to matters of faith, we may be turned down, but that’s ok,
be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and absolutely don’t give up on
people regardless.
Very rarely in the
Bible does God come to someone and say, “Stay.” Almost never does God interrupt
someone and ask them to remain in comfort, safety and familiarity. He opens a door and calls them to come
through it!
John Ortberg
Life is either a
daring adventure or nothing at all
Hellen Keller
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