Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors: A United Methodist Pastor’s Reflection on Psalm 118

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

For years, the United Methodist Church has proclaimed a simple yet profound invitation to the world: “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” This motto isn’t just a slogan—it’s a way of living, loving, and welcoming that flows directly from our faith in a gracious, living God. And there’s no better Scripture to reflect this than Psalm 118—a psalm of thanksgiving, resilience, and open-hearted trust in God.

Open Hearts – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:1)

Psalm 118 opens and closes with this declaration of God's enduring love. An open heart begins here—with gratitude and a deep awareness that we are loved by God, not because of what we’ve done, but because of who God is.

To live with an open heart is to love freely, to forgive generously, and to serve humbly. It's about letting God soften our hearts so that we are not closed off to those who look, think, or live differently than we do. As the psalmist recounts God's faithful love in the midst of danger and fear, we're reminded that open hearts are courageous hearts—hearts that love in the face of risk because we trust the One whose love never fails.

Open Minds – “The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14)

Opening our minds doesn’t mean compromising our faith—it means deepening it. The psalmist speaks from personal experience: God’s salvation wasn’t theoretical; it was real, present, and powerful. This kind of trust opens the door for learning, growth, and transformation.

United Methodists believe in a faith that seeks understanding. We embrace reason, tradition, and experience alongside Scripture to help us discern God’s will. Psalm 118 encourages this kind of thoughtful faith—a faith that can wrestle with hardship, rejoice in deliverance, and still declare, “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” (v. 17)

An open mind asks questions. It listens. It learns. It doesn’t fear mystery but finds God in it.

Open Doors – “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.” (Psalm 118:19)

There’s something powerful about an open door. It signals welcome. It offers shelter. It invites community. In Psalm 118, the psalmist longs to enter the gates of righteousness—not to hide from the world, but to give thanks in the presence of others.

As United Methodists, we believe the Church is called to be this kind of open gate. Not a fortress for the righteous but a sanctuary for the seeking. Not a club with secret codes but a home with lights on and arms wide open. We open our doors not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally—to the lonely, the lost, the joyful, and the broken.

The Stone and the Cornerstone – “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22)

This verse reminds us of Jesus, who was rejected by many but is now the foundation of our faith. To follow Him means embracing those whom the world rejects. It means opening our lives to the outcast, the hurting, and the overlooked—just as He did.

In doing so, we become part of what God is building: a community of grace that is sturdy, welcoming, and grounded in love.

A Living Invitation

Psalm 118 ends where it began—with thanksgiving and praise. When we live with open hearts, open minds, and open doors, we offer a living invitation to the world: Come and see what God has done. Come and know His steadfast love.

May our churches—and our lives—echo the words of the psalmist:
“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (v. 23)

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church