Open door policy (Ephesians 2:11-22, Revelation 3:20-21)

"Broken doors can be repaired"

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

When I worked in business we had managers who were open door guys, and some that didn't want to be disturbed.  We are so blessed to be able to go to God anywhere anytime, 24x7.  He has an open door policy : ) definitely!  The verses above refer to our closed and broken doors (hearts).  This is a photo I took of our hot water heater closet.  It was really cold out and all of the sudden this burst of freezing air came at me!  As a very old girl scout, I knew what to do.  I grabbed a 2x4 and propped it closed.  It worked!  The door is fixed now. Overcoming in life can be hard but with faith, it's possible.  I have so many stories like really laughing for the first time at age 16 after I became a Christian.  

Sometimes our hearts feel like ice, like no one can ever bring us back to who we really are.  Jesus is knocking always.  He never gives up and wants us to sit with Him on His throne.  Looking forward to that. 

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 
We have hope because Jesus bridged the gap with his sacrifice and the covenant between man and God.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The promise was for Jews first, they were the circumcised.  Jesus was circumcised as a baby.  We are the Gentiles, those who are saved through Jesus' death (sacrifice), rather than the law and birthright.  However we still strive to live as the ten commandments and Jesus example taught us.  Hope, faith, love and obey. We don't make sacrifices now.  Jesus did that once and for all.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
I have to stop and realize here that Paul is an example of these verses literally.  He was a devout Jew.  He studied the law under one of the top Jewish teachers.  Then he learned about God's covenant with man, that Jesus is our final sacrifice.  Through Jesus the Holy Spirit gives us access to the Father (God the trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  The wall referred to here is the one in the temple that kept everyone out except on one day of the year, for one person to come near to God.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
(Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV)
There was once a temple made by man. At one time it was God's temple.  Animal sacrifices were made to please Him.  But it became corrupt.  Instead of offering their very best to God as atonement.  People offered fake alternatives, sheep that weren't really white.  Doves that could be bought at the temple instead of from personal sacrifice.  We still have the option to offer sacrifices (time, money, talent) to God.  But it's no longer for our forgiveness, it is for His  pleasure and our thanks.  Our hearts are His home now.

I love being God's servant.  I can ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and to let His will be my desire.  I've had some great adventures with the Lord.  This blog has been one of them.  When I see someone who is down I can ask the Holy Spirit to give me words to say.  It's amazing : )

Here's a song by, "Needtobreathe" Multiplied (link)