For Some Reading This Today, God Is Saying: I Have Placed Before You An Open Door That No One Can Shut.

Revelation 3:8, “I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.” (MSG) A good professor friend of mine who lives in Nashville TN has an absolutely amazing office! It is breath-taking! The inspiring view out of his office window looks as if it should be listed as one of nature’s most beautiful imagery's. But there’s something interesting I want you to know about it. Daily he’s able to look out at a beautiful lake and then there is a beautiful field. The field dips down into a hollow, or a "holler" as we call it down South. In the spring, some of the trees in the hollow start to bloom in living color. The redbud, the dogwood, they just start setting out their blossoms in all their glory. Well, last spring, someone walked into his office, glanced out that window, and said, "Well, look at those beautiful trees down there, if I didn't look hard, I would never have seen them." Truth is, they are indeed beautiful, but they're in a spot where very few people ever see their hidden beauty. God doesn't always reserve His beauty for places where lots of people can appreciate it. You see, He also plants some beautiful things in out-of-the-way places. And maybe you're one of them. Believe it or not, but not many see beauty when it's in an unlikely or a little known place, however, it's no less beautiful. Which reminds me of a counseling session I had a few months ago. A beautiful couple with communication issues. You see, it was their first anniversary and they went out to an amazing restaurant to celebrate. She went and got her hair done, make-up flawless, beautiful new outfit, the latest name-brand shoes and pocketbook set, manicure, pedicure, facial…I mean she went all out to look drop-dead gorgeous. Well, they starting talking and one of the questions she asked (as women, we are always asking questions), is ‘what do you think is my most attractive feature?’ You’ll never guess his response! He said ‘your mind.’ Now, many of us (especially women) are going ‘awwwwww’, However, his wife didn’t quite respond the same way. In fact, she was upset because he didn’t compliment her style, clothes, hair, looks, figure etc…but what was most attractive to him was her mind. He loved how strategic she is planning and executing, how she pays attention to every detail, how she can figure out a solution to almost any problem…but for her, that wasn’t her most valuable asset. She was so focused on the surface, that she didn’t see just how deep his love, admiration and respect actually went. She looked for the obvious, the familiar, the usual that would come from a man to a beautiful woman. And so she missed out on the value of a man who could see beyond sight. And isn’t that like many of us? We stare at the surface and overlook the depth of beauty found in not so obvious places… With that said, as God is evaluating each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3,He seems pretty unimpressed with the ones that look beautiful to everyone else. Like the church at Sardis that has "a reputation of being alive" but Jesus says to them, "You are dead" (Revelation 3:1 reads like this, “…I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you’re dead, stone-dead” MSG). Or the rich and powerful Christians at Laodicea who Jesus says are actually "pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (The Message Bible says Revelation 3:15-17 like this, “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” MSG). But then there's this church - this out-of-the-way, little known church that Jesus thinks is absolutely beautiful. Listen to how He describes them in Revelation 3, beginning in verse 8, "I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers." (CEV) Even though they are weak, He promises them something that He offers to none of the other, highly visible churches, just because they obeyed Him. He says, "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." He's going to give them special blessings and opportunities simply because of their quiet faithfulness. They didn't use their weakness as an excuse not to follow their strong God. And yet, if you obey the Word of the Lord, you still receive the Promise. See, unfortunately for us today, we’ve become so materialistic, greedy, selfish, and even stylish, that we don’t know how to discover hidden beauty. Especially if it’s not attached to a name, promotion, increase, “blessing”, or some form of elevation or acknowledgement. We’ve even become so number-obsessed with getting adults into the church, that we haven’t noticed the beauty of youth has faded from the church. We’ve lost touch with real beauty. But God never does. He looked at the church without the reputation for great works, and without the wealthy members, and He saw the beauty of a little out of the way hidden church that simply kept His Word. When others didn’t see them, He did.  And for someone reading this today, you need to know that's exactly how He feels about you. You've been asked to serve Him, to be faithful to Him in a little place, maybe even a hard place, a place where you receive little or no appreciation or affirmation. Maybe you work or live in a situation where no one appreciates the beauty of Christ in you. But God wants you to know today He loves to look at you. And He thinks you're absolutely beautiful! You don’t sit on the front row, no one carries your stuff, wipes your sweat or grandly acknowledges your presence…but God sees your beauty. You serve people who don’t even know your name or say thank you, but God sees your beauty. You’ve kept your virginity and obeyed the Word of the Lord, remaining abstinent, and still you wonder where is Mr. Wonderful, where is Mrs. Right, but remain faithful, God sees your beauty. Leah was unloved, Hannah was barren, Tamar was raped, Abigail was married to a fool, Esther was an orphan, Naomi loss of a husband and 2 sons, and Mary was more than misunderstood, David sinned big time, but yet a man after God's own heart, Joseph was sold off into slavery by his own brothers.  And yet, the Lord didn’t allow His Word to be written without their stories being included. Therefore, maintain your character, God still has great chapters to add to your life’s story. Now, You May Not Always Be Seen and Celebrated By Others, But God Always Sees Your Hidden Beauty, And If He Alone Celebrates It, Who Else Matters?  Blessings J.P. Olson www.thewordwithjpolson.com