Life Through an Open Door

Monday 29 March to Friday 2 April

We have just returned from a Men’s weekend away at a Christian Community in the Cotswolds called the House of the Open Door.  We discovered during our stay that the House of the Open Door means what it says….. the door to the house where we were staying was always unlocked/open.  People would wander in and out delivering or dropping off things or even to have a shower.  At first it was rather disconcerting, but in the end we realised it was just the natural outworking of community.

In the beginning God stated that it was not good for man to be alone.  Folks don’t do so well in isolation; we were made for community.  Most commentators would agree that in modern Britain there is generally a lack of community.  Individuals live out their selfish lives behind closed doors, being polite to each but never interacting at a level any deeper than a nice chat.

Community starts when we learn to take an interest in others; when we lift our gaze from self to the welfare and needs of others.  It continues as we allow ourselves to be known at a deeper level; as vulnerably we share more of ourselves.  Jesus said that the true hallmark of authentic Christianity was to be found in the depth of love that we display towards one another.  Jesus modelled the ultimate depth of that love when he agreed to be nailed to a cross and be killed for people who were still strangers or even enemies.

Jesus lived life with an open door.  He lived life in community with others.  At first it was with his family and then in his home town and later on with the twelve disciples and his travelling friends.  People had access to Jesus and could see how he lived out his life.  Jesus was often interrupted by individuals turning up unannounced but he took time to be with them.  People walking through Jesus’ open door were not an inconvenience but a welcome chance to interact with another fellow human being.

The hackneyed old phrase “my door is always open” from a manager who clearly could not care less breeds cynicism.  But the intention is clear – I am approachable and you can talk to me about anything at any time…… even if the practice doesn’t align with the theory.

At the very beginning of Mark’s gospel he records the time when Jesus went back, after preaching in the synagogue, to Peter and Andrew’s house.  In the evening the whole town gathered at the door with the sick and the demonised in tow.  Jesus gave strict instructions to turn off the lights, be quiet and not answer the door in the hope that they would just go away……  Of course he didn’t!  The door was open and, despite a busy day, Jesus healed many.  The door to the house where Jesus is resident is open.

Let’s be people who, like Jesus, live life with an open door.

Exercise

It’s all about people.  Jesus hung on the cross not for a mission statement, not to make a point, not even to start a religion, but for people like me.  His love for me kept him there despite the taunts and jeers from people like me.  If we forget about people and their intrinsic value to Jesus then we miss much of Jesus’ message.

It’s all about people.

Let’s see if we can live life this week putting people first – valuing people as Jesus did.  An open door means we are available to people; approachable, interruptible, distractible…..

Try one or more of these each day this week:

• encourage and build-up someone
• help someone
• compliment someone
• find the best in someone
• be generous to someone
• listen carefully to someone
• care for someone

God is love.  Let’s see if the love of Jesus flowing through us can affect our community.

Bible Verses to Ponder

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. – Ezekiel 36:26-27

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds. – John 12:23-24

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. – John 15:13-15

Prayer for the Sixth Week in Lent from the Church of England

Almighty and everlasting God, who in Your tender love towards mankind sent Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse to Remember

"A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." – John 13:34-35

Things to do

During the course of this week, try to fast for two days.  You might like to make one of your days Good Friday.  This week also consider eating no meat, sticking to vegetables and pulses.  You could have a pasta bake, risotto, stuffed butternut squash; fried Halloumi cheese on salad is a winner… I was thinking of writing the world’s first fasting cookery book, but I don’t think the market is quite ready for it!

Don’t drive, walk.  Leave 5 minutes earlier than you need to and chat to anyone you meet on the way.

Do some gardening or tidying out the front of your house, wash your car, sit outside at a local coffee shop (Rootz or Manna) – be prepared to stop and talk, you’ll get to talk to loads of people and, in doing so, build community.

Give up your mobile for a day at the weekend…. I know, but worth a try eh?