🌟 Scriptures 🌟
Genesis 4:5-7
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
Psalm 141:3 ESV
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Amos 3:3 NIV
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Luke 13:22-30 ESV
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' ...
🗣️The Message📜
Doors are very important, It keeps things out and the only way something can get in is if it's let in or they break-in. I always found Genesis 4:5-7 interesting because even in the beginning God was calling His people to rule over sin, God said to Cain that sin was crouching at his door seeking to control him and God called Cain to rule over it. But, how was Cain supposed to rule over this sin? Well, God said if you do what is right you will be accepted. Sin didn't have any power until Cain made up in his mind that he wasn't going to do right but stay angry and jealous. He was in agreement with sin (Amos 3:3) so it did take control and he ended up killing his brother Abel. Then we also see God mention a door at the end in Revelation but this time He is at the door knocking wanting to commune with us His people. He says in Revelation 3:20
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
There is no mention of taking control, Jesus just knocks and waits for us, His people to open the door so we can commune together. Just like Cain, we all have the choice to do what is right or do what is wrong and to allow sin to rule over us. God gave us a choice and He won't force himself on us He will simply ask and knock because He loves us.
This reminds me of when God brought the punishment of the death of the firstborns in Egypt. He didn't just protect all of the Israelites, He told them to place the blood on their doorpost along with other instructions to remain safe from death. He gave them a choice coupled with instructions to be safe, but He didn't force them.
John 10:9 says,
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."
But once the Israelites got saved from their slavery in Egypt and started to live with The Lord there was trouble. Why? Well because they forgot how painful their slavery was, they forgot the God who defended them and saved them from their enemies. They fell out of agreement with God and wanted the familiar over freedom. Matthew 7:13-14 says,
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
The way was difficult for them back then and it is difficult for us today. When we walk with Jesus it will be difficult because we're rejecting the World and what's familiar to us. We are constantly be attacked by the enemy and constantly be called to throw away our old worldly habits. To watch what we say and do, to love the unlovable, and to forgive. Sometimes this can seem impossible, the Bible even says it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into Heaven (Mathew 19:23-24). Thankfully God gives us a solution to finish this difficult journey to Heaven later in this passage, He says,
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ( Matthew 19:26)
We must trust God and surrender our lives to Him if we want to get to the promised land. We must cry out like David did for God to direct our speech and actions (Psalm 141:3). If we want to overcome sin we must let Jesus in and the world out. We must be in agreement with God and walking in obedience. With God we can and must rule over sin or face death like the Israelites (Numbers 14:20-22) and punishment like Cain did. Today many people let all manner of sin through the doors of their hearts and then they suffer. We all have a choice but Jesus won't knock forever, there will be a time that people will be running to His door, but it will be too late,
Luke 13:22-27 says,
"22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'
Doors are very important, if you let the wrong things through the doors of your house and if there is no protection you'll face annoyance, danger, or even death. Allow Christ's Words to protect your bodies, your temples, and your life so you can have peace and make it to the promised land.
What are you letting in your temples, your bodies today? What are you letting through your doors? Is it glorifying God, is it helping you grow in Christ and become more like Him, or is it harmful and hurting your relationship with Him? Make the decision to walk with Christ and let Him teach you how to have peace.