| “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 the “Sermon on the Mount,” as recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, the Lord Jesus Christ teaches His disciples about several very important concepts necessary for proper Christian Spiritual Formation. Among the topics that Jesus covers is His discussion of the way to eternal life.
Recognizing that Jesus Himself is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no person comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6), He did make some comments that should prepare all Christians for the kind of life they will find themselves living, if they choose to faithfully and obediently follow in the footsteps that Jesus has left for us. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus shares these words:
“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.”
This instruction is not so much a teaching of the kind of action that a believer must take. Rather, Jesus is sharing rather distinctly the kind of life that will naturally follow a believer who chooses obedience to God’s will and to His written Word. You see, the way of Jesus is not an easy way. Devotion to Christ will lead believers into very narrow passageways where they will find themselves hemmed in on all sides by those who want to minimize, and even destroy, the gospel.
Yes, the Holy Spirit will lead us along the right pathway. But, there is a definite price to pay for our faithfulness. We cannot earn our way. But, by determining to follow the pathway God gives us through the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will be subjected to many and interesting consequences—not all of which are pleasant ones.
As we start this new day, let’s keep our minds and hearts clear about the price we will pay for obedience. Not so much as a direct result of what we do. But, more so in what will be done to us by a world that rejects the power of Christ’s love and sacrifice.
We do well to understand that following in the footsteps of Jesus will subject us to the same kind of hatred that He experienced. Naturally, the Holy Spirit will comfort us and give us strength. But, we must not think for one moment that the natural world will easily accept our allegiance to the King of Kings.
Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, September 14, 2018
