🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ Church Gate Keeping

Scripture: Acts 9:26 (KJV)

“And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”

Devotion: Have you ever walked into a place where you did not feel welcome?

Maybe you were the new employee at work, and everyone already had their own little groups.

Maybe you visited a church, but no one spoke to you.

Or maybe people knew about your past, and no matter how much you had changed, they refused to see anything different.

Whew!

Let’s ask ourselves a tough question today.

Are we accidentally keeping out the very people Jesus is trying to send us because we are too afraid of their past?

That one deserves a moment of silence.

Now let’s look at today’s scripture.

Saul had been converted.

He had encountered Jesus.

He had received his sight.

He had been baptized.

He had received the Holy Ghost.

He had already begun preaching Christ.

Now he wanted to join the disciples.

But the Bible says they were all afraid of him.

And honestly…

I understand why.

Saul had imprisoned Christians.

He had approved of Stephen’s death.

His reputation was terrifying.

Their fear was real.

Their concerns were valid.

But here’s the problem.

Jesus had already changed Saul.

The disciples were looking at Saul’s past…

While God was looking at Saul’s future.

Whew!

How often do we do the same thing?

Someone comes into church with tattoos, and we assume they are trouble.

Someone walks in smelling like alcohol or marijuana, and we keep our distance.

Someone has been to prison.

Someone has struggled with addiction.

Someone has a painful divorce.

Someone has a reputation around town.

And before we ever get to know them…

We’ve already decided who they are.

My, my, my!

Church…

We have to be careful.

Because the very person we’re hesitant to welcome may be the very person God has chosen to use.

What if someone had permanently shut the door on Saul?

What if no one had been willing to believe that God had truly changed him?

We would never know Paul as one of the greatest messengers of Jesus Christ.

Glory to God!

Now don’t misunderstand me.

Wisdom is still necessary.

Discernment is still necessary.

The disciples had good reason to be cautious.

This devotion is not about throwing wisdom away.

It’s about refusing to let fear become a gatekeeper for God’s grace.

There is a difference.

We must overcome fear and skepticism enough to welcome the broken…

The hurting…

The converted…

The ones Jesus is saving.

Because if Jesus has forgiven them…

Who are we to permanently reject them?

Whew!

The church should be the safest place for a person who is sincerely turning to Christ.

Not because we ignore their past…

But because we believe in the power of God’s transformation.

Isn’t that what happened to us?

God didn’t wait until we were perfect.

He welcomed us.

He forgave us.

He changed us.

And now He asks us to extend that same grace to others.

Before you leave today, ask yourself this question:

Am I helping open the church doors… or am I standing in front of them?

God bless you!

Prayer: Father God, search my heart. If there is fear, pride, judgment, or skepticism in me, please remove it. Help me see people the way You see them. Give me wisdom and discernment, but never let fear keep me from welcoming those You are drawing to Yourself. Teach me to remember the grace You showed me when I needed You most. Open my heart to receive the broken, the hurting, and those whose lives You are transforming. Let me never become a gatekeeper to Your Kingdom, but a servant who points people to Jesus with love, truth, and compassion. Use me to help make Your church a place where people encounter Your saving grace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🕊️