"The door was opened wide before the summary of how the church in Philadelphia was doing. Because God’s gift of love and life and open doors is there BEFORE we do or achieve or manage or sustain or cling on to anything. It does not depend on us, and it does not ever close because of something we have or have not done. 


Let’s be clear on that. The door isn’t opened if you’re doing a cracking job…it’s just open. The door isn’t closed if you mess up….it remains open. The open door depends on the love and loyalty of God and that is a door nobody can close. 


It’s radical because it reminds us afresh that this faith we profess is not one about merit or deserving but based on the always undeserved love of God for us. And it’s THAT which sustains us."