This post is Day 17 in a series of studies about “Doors & Gates”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Doors & Gates – Day 17

Opening your door to people you do not know is not necessarily easy, but rewarding. Personally my family have been very blessed by having an open door policy and the consequence has been that we have many friends all over the world who have also opened their doors to us.

Job 31:32

but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveller

The Thought

In the 29th chapter of the book of Job, this unfortunate servant of God begins his final defence. He lists many good and reputable things he has done in obeying God’s commands. It is always good to remember that God considered Job as good. At the beginning of the book it is God that says to satan Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. (Job 1:8).

Job knew he had done nothing wrong and was not understanding why he was suffering so much, feeling as though he was being punished. His story takes a long time in telling and the 42 chapters are all worth reading. But here we have his defence of having opened his door to strangers, a recommendation also given to us in Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Opening your door to people you don’t know is not necessarily easy, but can be very rewarding. Of course all of us must beware of letting the enemy into our homes, and those who have lived in war-torn areas of the world are most aware of that. Personally my family have been very blessed by having an open door policy and the consequence has been that we have many friends all over the world who have also opened their doors to us.

Action

Pray for protection for those you know who are not “careful” about who comes into their homes.

Pray too for those who, like Job, open their home to the traveller and are blessed by new relationships.