One of our challenges for 2014 is to learn and live all 50 commands of
Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments is a way to love him
and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John 15:9-12). In
his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all
nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew
28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living one command
of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...
Week 6:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate
and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find
it,” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Application:
Did you ever have this conversation with your parents
when you were growing up? You: “But
mom/dad, everyone is doing it.” Mom/Dad:
“If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it?” I never liked this argument, but I have to
admit mom and dad had a point. Just because
everyone is doing it, doesn't make it a good idea. Jesus makes this point in our command for the
week.
Jesus wants us to have true life in all its fullness. Unfortunately, many people walk a path that
leads to destruction. We see it all
around us. Jesus commands us to take a
different path. He tells us to enter
through the narrow gate and the narrow road that lead to life. Here is the Good News: Jesus is the one who
makes it possible for us to walk the path of life. He is both the gate and the road for us.
In John 10 Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters
through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full,” (10:9-10).
A little bit later in John’s Gospel Jesus said, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (14:6).
Jesus is our gate and road to life. He opens the way of life to us through his
grace and salvation. Then, he invites us
to experience full life through following him every step of the way.
There will be many times in life when our choice to trust
and follow Jesus will take us down a path few others are traveling. Jesus will call us to live lives of purity, honesty, and integrity. Jesus will call us to be
faithful managers and generous givers of the resources God has blessed us
with. Jesus will call us to glorify God
through what we do with our body and what we put into our body. Jesus will call us to a greatness that
involves putting the needs of others before our own and serving the least of
these. Jesus will call us to a selfless,
sacrificial love in all our relationships.
Jesus will call us to extend mercy and forgiveness like he did for us.
This path is not easy and it is not traveled by many. Yet this is the path to true life! If you've walked it, you know it’s true. Jesus gives this command out of love. He wants us to have life in all its
fullness. We can love Jesus back by
entering the narrow gate and taking the narrow road.
1)
Place your faith in Jesus as the way, the truth,
and life!
2) This week when you face a choice to follow the way of the
world or the way of Jesus, choose the narrow gate and the narrow road that
leads to life!
Share your comments
and application ideas...
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