Open Doors

Praying at the same time for us also, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ (because of which also I am bound), Colossians 4:3   

These days the Lord has been opening doors for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, the church, the Body of Christ. Since the beginning of this year I intended to spend more time with my family as the children are growing up; even my wife fellowshipped with me on the importance of spending more time with our children. I did my best to spend more time and build a good family relationship in love and care. Yet at the same time, my burden for the saints, seekers, sinners, and new ones grew all the more. I intended to spend more time in prayer for all these rather than physically meeting them. But as the days went by, the Lord opened one door after another which requires my visit or their visiting me. Once the Lord opens a door, I dare not shut it for whatever reason, lest I be counted guilty of being an unfaithful shepherd. The only option left to me is to shepherd these sheep the Lord graces me with.

Since last month, the number of open doors has been growing, and one by one I fixed an appointed on a weekly basis. Thus far, the open doors that the Lord has graced me is being shepherded on a daily basis. On Monday afternoon is a meeting in a beauty saloon with the owner, manager, and staffs; beginning from scratch they have now started to pray by themselves with daily Bible reading. On Tuesday morning is a meeting with two local seekers, a Recovery Version Bible study, beginning with the gospel of Mathew. They have enjoyed the Bible study so much that wanted to bring in their friends in the coming days. On Wednesday night is a meeting with a brother who had gone astray and are now being recovered back; he and his friend. On Thursday and Friday, a small group of new ones families in five different locations, to be organically and mutually arranged. On Saturday is with a local family whom I used to visit and now being regularized again, in addition to the weekly gospel preaching. And on Lord's day is with open families, and  I switched around with different families according to the need, in additional to the general Lord's day meeting till afternoon.

Whenever I counted the open doors the Lord has blessed the church in Gurgaon with, I am amazed at number and the hunger and thirst of all these ones.They accepted the ministry of the word so readily. The only concern now is, I should not be the only one who goes around to visit all these. But the church as a whole should raise up to shepherd these dear ones. My learning these days is in bringing along with me one or two brothers to coordinate and carry on the work of shepherding. The question is not longer with people, for there are many, both individuals and families, who are open to the ministry but the shepherding who would faithfully shepherd these ones.

These open doors are of two types; one for the gospel, and the other for the church-life. The Lord has been teaching me how to shepherd these two categories of people. To both , the time spent has been very enjoyable and they have been blessed whenever we had meetings. What I need to learn more is how to also usher them into the Body life that they can easily blend with the other members of the Body too. Their openness should not be limited to me only. Many times, the case is, the openness seems to be biased. And I do not wish to see them not being as open to the other members of the Body as much as they are to me. I do not wish to attract people to myself, but to Christ and the church. This is a challenge I am facing these days. I really pray that I would learn to shepherd the new ones to the extend that they can be shepherded by any member of the Body, and in turn do the work of shepherding themselves.

Thank God for these openings. May the Lord gain all these open doors, open homes, and open hearts for His testimony. Openings for Christ and the church!