“When I walk through an open door, I often learn truths about myself that I would never have learned if I’d stayed on the other side.”- John Ortberg
As John Ortberg continues Chapter 2 of All the Places to Go, he observes that when we go through open doors, we have to trust that God will use us in spite of our imperfections. The process provides a unique avenue for learning about ourselves, warts and all. Pastor Ortberg adds that, when we go through open doors: (a) we’ll discover our faith really is weaker than we thought it was before we went through the door; and (b) we must be humble enough to accept failure.
The Israelites were a classic example of this when the escaped from slavery in Egypt. When Moses and Aaron gathered the Israelite slaves to deliver God’s message and show them the miraculous signs, they voiced their belief. But when they saw Pharaoh coming after them, they changed their tune. John summarizes: “When their circumstances changed, it turned out they really didn’t believe at all.”
Yet, as Pastor Ortberg will discuss in the next blog, people who walk through God’s open doors need not be spiritual giants, possessing a faith we never could possibly reach. For example, God chose to work with Abraham because Abraham was willing to trust Him. It wasn’t based on Abraham’s ability to do the right thing.
Today’s question: Following your vocation loss, how has God used you in spite of your imperfections? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The object of our faith”
