By Anne Graham Lotz
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:29
In His letters to the seven churches in Revelation, the last church to be considered is the small, humble church at Philadelphia. Jesus had nothing but words of praise for the Philadelphian church. It must have been deeply encouraging to hear Him say, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8). Can you imagine coming under the intense scrutiny of Christ and receiving nothing but praise because your entire life, inside and out, backward and forward, up and deep down, is pleasing to Him? What a testimony this beautiful body of believers had.
Feeling Insignificant in Your Faith? You’re Not Alone
Although the Philadelphia believers did everything right, I wonder if their tendency was to be deluded, thinking their ability was insignificant to the point their timidity kept them from walking through the open door. When Jesus told them that He knew they had a little strength, He revealed they may have felt inadequate. That’s the way I have felt—and still feel.
The Danger of Letting “Little” Become an Excuse
Would you say you only have . . .
a little strength?
a little time?
a little money?
a little education?
a little knowledge?
Has the “littleness” caused you to feel inadequate? Has your feeling of inadequacy become your excuse for not taking the opportunities God gives you?
When God Opens a Door, Walk Through It—Even If You’re Afraid
When Jesus opened the door of opportunity for me to establish a Bible class in my city, and as one by one the barriers that had hindered it came down, I was at last faced with the reality of getting into the pulpit and teaching. I knew the open door He had set before me included the implied command to walk through it. But I used my feelings of inadequacy and inferiority as an excuse for disobedience because I was so timid.
Jesus seemed to say, “Anne, I have opened a door for you—walk through it.”
I said, “I can’t.”
And He said, “I know without Me you can do nothing, but through Me you can do all things.”
I said, “Lord, I am inadequate.”
He said, “I agree. But My grace is sufficient.”
I said, “Lord, I am weak.”
He said, “I’ve told you I know you have only a little strength, but My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
One by one, He took my reasons for not serving Him—and agreed with them! I loved Him for His honesty with me. He didn’t say, “Anne, you can do this! You just have to try harder! You have more strength than you realize! Your background has equipped you more than you know.” Instead, He acknowledged what I knew to be the truth, which was that I could not, in myself, do what He was commanding. But He left no room for argument as to what He would do through me if I simply made myself available to Him in obedience and dependence.
His command was clear: “Anne, walk through the open door I have placed before you. ‘Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown’” (Revelation 3:11).
And I respectfully answered, “Lord, I know what I don’t have. I don’t have time, or strength, or education, or money, or ability. What do I have that I am to hold on to?”
And He said, “Anne, you have Me! And you have My Word! Walk through the open door, holding on to what you have.”
And because I call Him “Lord,” at that point I had no option. I said: “Yes, Sir!” and started teaching the class. My fear was more like stark terror! Fear of public failure, fear of critical comparisons, fear of upturned faces, and fear of total inadequacy caused me to literally get physically sick before every lecture I gave for the first two months! But as fearful as I was to teach, I was even more fearful to disobey the One I called Lord!
Still Inadequate, But Fully Dependent on Jesus
That was many, many years ago! The interesting thing is that as I have continued to walk through the open doors He places before me, I have not grown in self-confidence. I have less confidence today in myself than when I began teaching because I now know by experience that all my reasons for not serving were very accurate. I am totally inadequate.
The difference is that my confidence in the Lord Jesus has increased. I now know, also by experience, that my Redeemer is faithful and true in every situation. I know, by experience, He will never command me to do anything He is unable or unwilling to do in me and through me.
I continue to walk through the open doors, still terrified, still holding tightly to what I have, yet growing in my confidence in Him and in His Word. Praise His name! I know, without a doubt, to God alone be the glory for the things He has done!
What Open Doors Has God Placed Before You?
What doors has He opened for you? If you are deluded into thinking your insignificant ability is an excuse for refusing to walk through them, it is not. Weakness, inadequacy, inferiority, inability can create a deep dependency upon God alone. And God will use those who are totally dependent upon Him. He holds the key!
What is our motivation to serve Him when He gives us the opportunity? Besides the fact that He is our Lord, and we therefore have no option, He told the Philadelphian church, “I am coming soon” (Revelation 3:11). Time to serve Him on earth is short. We are to work while it is day because the night is coming when no man can work (John 9:4).