Genesis 28:12-13 – And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder [or a flight of steps] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac." (ESV)

Recently, I was in town to visit a shop to get a repair done in the arcade [shopping centre], but I was a bit early, so to pass the time, I went elsewhere in the mall to find a well-known discount store to see if there was anything of interest.

This was at the end of the arcade on the upper level, serviced by an escalator. However, the escalator, too, was closed, and it had a band across the bottom saying something like "Out of service". Fortunately, there were other escalators further up the concourse which I found to be working.

Having walked around to the discount store, I stood and waited outside and looked down from above the escalator. As I was looking, I wondered what was wrong with it.

As the store lifted up the shutters to the main entrance, someone came down to the escalator and switched it on. It appears that it was not broken at all! The barrier was there only to dissuade anyone from using it until such a time as the store was opened.

All this made me reflect upon Jacob's staircase or ladder, which God's messengers and agents (angels) apparently used to go about God's purposes. As I considered the earlier "Out of service" notice stretched across the escalator, I wondered what barriers we put across God's access into our lives. How different Jacob's life would have been but for the persistence, encouragement, and guidance of God into his experience!

I ask the question of us today: Is there anything in us that we may be holding onto which has become a barrier, preventing us from hearing God's Word and seeing God's action in our lives? In effect, are we saying to God, "We are out of service"? If only we could regain our focus on Jesus for a while, taking down the "Out of service" notice to God, then maybe, we would be able to see movement for the opportunities and messages that God sends first to us and then through us as His agents and messengers (angels) to others.

Prayer: Lord, we love You, knowing, like Jacob, that You first loved us. Forgive us for anything that has been a barrier to hearing and seeing You move in our lives today. We give You permission to break down the lies, issues, and excuses that we have used to put up an "Out of service" sign. Lord, have mercy on us and take away the fears and apprehensions we may have about the future and our walk with You, wherever it leads. This we pray in and through Jesus' name. Amen.