Judges 9-10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When there are many who oppose me, why don't I see it as a great door opened to me like Paul does here? In these times the tendency seems to be that having opposition is taken as a sign that God has closed a door. Somehow we have become programmed to think that way. Jesus even told us that in this world we will have troubles. He says we are blessed when we are persecuted and insulted for His name's sake. We are to consider it joy when we go through various trials because of what the testing of our faith produces. We seem to have exchanged The Comforter for living comfortably. I pray that I will be able to clearly see the diference between an opportunity for effective work in the midst of opposition and a closed door.