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"The
Narrow Gate"
Message summary: Let us faithfully adhere to the teachings of Christ revealed in the Holy Bible and let us enter through the narrow gate that leads us to His paths of righteousness.
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“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).
We have a fenced in backyard with walk-through gates allowing access from our front yard on each side, and a wider gate that opens to the property behind our yard so that I can get my lawn tractor in if needed. Without these gates I would have very limited access to our backyard and in today’s text "gate" is used in the sense of access.
“Gate”
is a common
word found all
throughout the
Bible from
Genesis
through
Revelation.
That’s not
surprising
since the
Bible was
written during
a time when
gates were
used at the
entrance to
walled cities
for access.
Two gates of
access are
revealed in a
teaching by
Christ in the
Sermon on the
Mount, a
narrow one and
a wide one: “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).
In this age of
religious
pluralism,
diversity, and
tolerance
these words of
our Lord may
seem harsh and
even unloving
to some ears.
An increasing
majority are
raising a
defiant fist
of rebellion
against God,
His Word and
time-tested
standards of
morality. We
read that even
the majority
are now
accepting of
the redefining
of marriage in
absolute
rebellion
against God's
written laws.
But
consider the
solemn words
of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
“For wide
is the gate
and broad is
the road that
leads to
destruction,
and many
enter through
it.”
I address the
faithful here:
those who have
“eyes to
see and ears
to hear”
the words of
our Lord. Let
us enter
through the
narrow gate
realizing that
small is the
gate and
narrow the
road that
leads to life.
In a similar
teaching Jesus
said, “Strive
to enter
through the
narrow door;
for many, I
tell you, will
seek to enter
and will not
be able”
(Luke 13:24).
I am
especially
intrigued by
Christ’s
words, "and
only a few
find it".
One commentary
shares this
perspective:
"According to
Christ
Himself, most
people will
not be saved,
in spite of
the fact that
He offers
salvation as a
free gift to
all. Jesus
clearly did
not believe in
the doctrine
of
universalism
that is
growing in
popularity
today, the
belief that
everyone will
eventually end
up in heaven.”
Let us
faithfully
adhere to the
teachings of
Christ
revealed in
the Holy Bible
and let us
enter through
the narrow
gate that
leads us to
His paths of
righteousness.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
through Your
righteous
narrow gate we
enter into our
Christian
journey. With
Your help and
by Your mercy
we will also
stay the
course. How
grateful we
are to be
among those
who enter
since Jesus
said “only a
few will find
it.” At times
there is a
compulsion to
be aligned
with the
masses who
walk the broad
way because it
is more
acceptable to
others and
easier to
align with
those around
us. But we
know the end
result will be
eternal
damnation
later, lack of
peace here and
now, and
friendship
with the enemy
of our
soul.
Help us to
remain
faithful to
You, zealous
in our
Christian
walk, and ever
mindful of
those we need
to bring along
with us as we
walk the
narrow path.
In Jesus name
we pray. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"When
We All Get To
Heaven"
Watch
on YouTube
Worship
Initiative
(Same song we
shared
yesterday)
"Miracle
Or Not"
Watch
on YouTube
Worship
Initiative
featuring
Bethany
Bernard
A very
thoughtful
song of faith.
Our
neighbor
Jessica took
these photos
of wildlife
behind our
back yard.
Lots of deer
and the eagles
Stephen'
note: A
bonus to using
the gate along
the back of
our property
is walking out
to observe a
bald eagle
pair building
a nest in a
large tree in
the farm field
behind us. (in
the photo of
our fence in
the message
the eagle nest
would be
behind me as I
faced our
house) The
eagle pair are
building up
their nest
over a hawk's
nest that was
abandoned (or
did the eagles
kick them
out?) We can
observe them
flying back
and forth to
pick up
building
materials such
as sticks. The
female
typically lays
her eggs in
late January
so we will
have some
interesting
eagle viewing
through the
spring.
However we are
also doing
some study
regarding
concerns we
have about
Rosie, our
smallest
Maltipoo at 12
pounds. She
was attacked
by two coyotes
in California
two days
before she and
Falcon came to
live with us
just over
three
years ago.
Amazingly
Falcon, her 18
pound brother
saved her life
by fighting
off the
coyotes. We
would hate to
see that kind
of scenario
again with a
hungry eagle
but from what
we read these
types of
attacks are
rare.
Another
note follow-up
from
yesterday:
We
referred to
the passing of
Robert
Wolgemuth. His
dad was raised
in Lancaster
County at
Mount
Pleasant, a
country church
we attended
for many
years. In fact
his
grandmother
was still
living when we
started
attending in
2001; she was
over 100 as we
recall. His
father was one
of the
founders of
Youth For
Christ and his
mother was a
sister to
Jesse Dourte
whom we often
referred to
years ago
before he and
his wife Wilma
passed away.
In 2010 I
drove Jesse
and Wilma out
to Chicago to
attend her
funeral. (See
here)
In his
final book,
Finish Line,
Robert wrote
about
finishing life
well—with
preparation,
peace, and
purpose. He
challenged his
readers to
live fully for
Christ all the
way to the
end, all the
way to “the
dazzling
splendor of
Jesus. A
blinding
sparkle. A
brilliant
finish, to be
sure. What an
amazing goal
for you and
me. To finish
well … with a
beautiful,
burnished,
God-honoring
finish.”
Robert lived
what he
preached,
investing his
last years on
earth to the
full: serving
tirelessly
alongside
Nancy at
Revive Our
Hearts,
writing,
teaching,
praying,
mentoring
younger men,
caring for his
neighbors,
enjoying his
family, and
loving Jesus,
Nancy, and
others in a
way that was
infectious.
“Crossing the
finish line is
going to be a
celebration
like you
cannot
imagine. Even
better. It’s
Christmas
morning when
you were a
kid. It’s your
honeymoon.
It’s the birth
of your first
child. Or
grandchild. Or
great-grandchild.
It’s your
favorite team
winning the
championship.
The word is
way overused,
but this time
it fits: one
day your
finish line is
going to be
awesome.” —
Robert
Wolgemuth
(Finish Line)
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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