The Gracious Open Door

We live in a rather tough neighborhood.  If we had any interest in getting acquainted with any of the police who are routinely in our neighborhood to deal with problems, we would be on a first name basis with most of the department.  Some great stories surrounding our neighborhood can be found in my book The Gospel According to Molly.  Molly is our dog.  She is great for loving on, for walking with, and for guarding the door to our house.

While our doors need double locks and Molly, there is a door that doesn’t.  It is a door that is always open.  It is a door where anyone can enter any time day or night and not be attacked or turned away.  It is a glorious door with a light above it saying “Welcome”. 

This wonderful door is Jesus.  In John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the Door.  By me if any man enter in he shall be saved.”  Jesus is the Door to eternal life.  He is the Door to God’s green pastures.  He is the Door to the fullness of joy.  He is the Door to abundant life.  He is the Door to hope and peace and rest.  He is the Door that stands ajar waiting for all who will come to Him to enter into life. 

Lydia Baxter wrote a beautiful and moving hymn “The Gate Ajar for Me”.  This hymn has been wonderfully used to invite people to Christ.  It has been wonderfully used to let the lost know that Jesus will welcome them.  His door is always open for whosoever will come in.

Here are the first two verses of Lydia Baxter’s hymn and then the chorus.

“There is a gate that stands ajar, and through its portals gleaming a radiance from the cross afar, the Savior’s love revealing.”

“That gate ajar stands free for all who seek through it salvation; the rich and poor, the great and small, of every tribe and nation.”

“O depth of mercy! Can it be that gate was left ajar for me? For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!”

Molly guards our door.  Jesus just leaves His open.  He leaves it open in our neighborhood and everyone else’s everywhere.  Friends, we need to be always pointing all men to that great Open Door.  It is ajar for all.  

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