“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.Becausenarrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
The entrance to the path of Kingdom living is narrow and specific. Trusting Jesus is the way to life and peace. No other way will do. The narrow way leads to life everlasting though it requires hardship and suffering in this life.
By contrast, the wide gate is open to any and everything. Every belief system and faith system is called “truth.” It is the easy way, and yet, this way, the wide way, leads to death.
Which path are you on? The narrow way of life through Jesus or the wide way that leads to destruction.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1:17
Dear Christian, we are blessed. We are abundantly blessed. It doesn’t always seem to be the case. But, we are blessed beyond measure. In no particular order, consider these blessings today…….
God has saved us.
God sustains us.
God secures us forever.
We are blessed with food.
We are blessed with clothing.
We are blessed with shelter.
We are blessed with finances.
We are blessed with family and friends.
We are blessed by the Church.
We are blessed with the sustaining power of Jesus.
We are blessed with the Holy Spirit’s presence at all times.
We are blessed with eternal life.
These are but a few of the blessings and gifts that God has given us. We may not have everything we want, but, we have more than enough. Dear Christian, you are blessed!
As Jesus’ teaches in Scripture, He calls for a response. His teaching has authority and power. It cannot be ignored. The hearer will either reject Christ’s teaching or follow Christ and be changed. There is no middle ground.
The same is true of us. We have a choice to make when confronted with the truth of God’s Word. We will obey it or we will forsake it. Jesus gives a helpful, practical principle to drive home His point in this verse of the Bible.
What will you do with Jesus’ message? Will you appropriate it and obey it? Or will you reject the Word of the Savior?
So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22
Dear Christian, obey the Lord. Obedience to the commands of God are always far better for us. Following Christ is the best way to live.
Fulfilling every precept of Scripture is not always easy. As a matter of fact, obedience can be costly at times. Nevertheless, the cost we might pay will always be worth it.
I have many regrets in life and I’ve failed the Lord numerous times. However, I have never regretted being obedient to my Savior. And you won’t regret living for Jesus either.
I will end with the words of the great, old hymn, “Trust and Obey”:
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12
This verse comprises the famous “golden rule” that most folks know. Jesus commands His followers to treat others as we would desire to be treated. Said another way, we are to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Christ teaches us that this principle sums up the entirety of what we would call the Old Testament Law and the Prophetic writings. Our horizontal relationship with one another is contingent upon our relationship with God. As we trust in Him, we want to treat others well, especially in the kingdom of heaven.
May God be praised by our actions, words, and attitudes!
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:15-23
In this passage, Jesus prays for His disciples. Christ prays for His immediate disciples and for those who will believe through their preaching and writing. Three requests are offered by our Lord in this prayer.
First, the Lord prays for our protection. He doesn’t pray that we will be taken away from all evil and difficulty. Rather, Christ intercedes for our protection in the midst of the trials and tribulations.
Also, the Savior prays for our sanctification. Jesus truly desires that we grow in maturity and increased faith in the Lord day by day. We are sanctified by the truth of God’s Word as we live in the Bible’s promises throughout our lives.
Finally, Messiah prays for the unity of His people. Christ desired that our unity as Christians would be modeled on the unity between the Father and the Son. May we ever seek that level of oneness among the children of God!
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:9-11
Two main points emerge from these verses. The first is this—God is our provider. He gives us good things. James expounds on this thought by saying “every good and perfect gift comes from above.” (James 1:17)
When we pray, may we be reminded that God is our provider and sustainer. He is Jehovah Jireh, God our Provider. (Genesis 22:14) We can trust Him to meet our needs.
Also, God knows what we need more fully than we do. God knows us better than we know ourselves and He knows how to give us what we need.
We ought to be thankful for this aspect of God’s provision. Often, we do not know what is best for us. And I’m glad that God withholds what we think we want in order to give us what is best.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
Living for Jesus is the best life one can live. It’s not the easiest life. Yet, it is always leads to purpose and peace.
The Apostles spoke boldly because they had been with Jesus. Walking with Christ produces traits in the child of God that are noticeable and factual. What are some of these benefits of living for the Savior?
*Humility—those who live for Jesus exhibit humility in their speech and actions.
*Happiness—the blessings of the Lord fall upon those who obey Him which produces joy unspeakable.
**Holiness—Christians who have truly been with Christ will exemplify holiness in their daily walk and labors.
All in all, Child of God, you can’t go wrong by being with Jesus!
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:8
Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount is memorable and informative. Matthew 7:8 gives us hope that God will not abandon us in our prayers. The Lord hears and He will answer in His way and in His time.
As Christians, we should pray persistently. Let’s be honest. If we don’t hear from God almost immediately in prayer we tend to give up. Some things take time and patience and that is especially true as we pray.
Jesus promises us an answer in verse 8 of this chapter. Sometimes the answer will be no or wait. But, you can’t trust that He will answer when the time is right and when we are right.
mrtonyfrench 