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Close the Door
I think we can all remember as children our parents yelling at us to “Close the Door.” In the winter, they didn’t want us to let the cold in. In the summer, they didn’t want us to let the cold out. “Close the door!!! What do you think we live in a barn?” My Grandpa got so sick and tired of yelling at my brother Josh for leaving the door open that he installed a super spring to pry the door shut.
The reason our parents wanted the door closed was to keep what was unwanted out of the house. Whether it was the cold or the heat, the flies or the mosquitoes, they didn’t want those things that brought discomfort into the house. We might have even kept the door closed to keep out an unwanted family member or those money hungry girls scouts. I remember waking up one summer in the middle of the night to the most hideous sound. The door had been left open and two cats had come into the house and were making a commotion in the kitchen. My mom had to chase them out with a broom and she was more than a little furious.
As Christians we need to “Close the Door” to sin in our lives. When those temptations come up, we need to shut them out. We need to slam the door on anything that is going to hinder our walk with God. We are in charge of what we let into our lives, what we say and do, what we watch on the television or the computer screen, and what we read or listen to. If we are to live a Godly life, we need to put an end to those things that draw us away from God. The Bible says for us to guard our hearts.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27).
In the world we live in today there is temptation all around us. Everywhere we turn and everywhere we look sin abounds. We need to take a stand against that sin that tries to enter our lives and make the choice to serve God in our everyday walks. Like Joshua said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
If we are to be great men and women of God, we need to “Close the Door” to those things that cause us to sin. The Bible says to resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7). It’s when we put an end to that sin in our lives that we can start walking in His perfect will.
I don’t know about you, but when it’s too hot or too cold, I don’t function the same. When I have to spend my time swatting flies or slapping at mosquitoes, I can’t focus entirely on what I’m trying to do. When sin is in my life, I lose focus on Christ. It’s like trying to drive in the fog. You know where you’re supposed to be going, but you can’t get there as fast as you need to. You have to drive slower because of the fog. When I find myself in that place, I stop doing what I’m doing, swat those flies, kill those mosquitoes, ask God for forgiveness and shut the door on those things that were bugging and hindering me.
Once you do that, KEEP THAT DOOR CLOSED!!! We go through more trials and problems as Christians because we start entertaining sin. We let a little bit creep into our lives. The door may only be open a crack, and although it may not seem like much at the time, we ultimately find ourselves caught up in the same old things all over again. And we cry and we beg God to get us out again, which He does, but He is also telling us, “If you would have kept the door closed in the first place you wouldn’t be in this position right now.”
So listen to your parents for once and “Close the Door!” When you do you’ll find that you can live a victorious life in Christ Jesus.
w/muchluv,
geno
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PHF LOVES YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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