Written
By: Kirk Peterson
The
Narrow Gate
13“You
can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is
broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14But the gateway
to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14, NLT)
The narrow road we are called to walk can be
difficult. Our human nature because of
the fall of man into sin, TEMPTS us to live one way while
God’s word SHOWS us how to live the opposite way that leads to life.
Recently, my 4 year old blew me away by preaching the
good word. He said he wanted to sit his
little brother and myself down and tell us a story of God. As I watched him there, so young and
innocent, flipping the pages of the book and telling us what he has learned
about God, I was amazed at how he was TEACHING us about God at such a
young age. He said, “God knows what is
good for us and tells us how to live”.
Listen & Follow
Building
on a Solid Foundation
24“Anyone
who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a
house on solid rock. 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters
rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is
built on bedrock. 26But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is
foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27When the rains and floods
come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty
crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NLT)
The Bible tells us that the world is controlled by the
enemy. The Bible also tells us that the
human heart is tainted by sin and causes us to fall. Though it may seem like we have the cards
stacked against us as Christians, Jesus tells us how to build our life on a
solid foundation. He said that anyone
who LISTENS
to His teachings and FOLLOWS it is wise. Though the storms of life come beating and
trying to tear down the foundation, it won’t collapse because it is built on
the bedrock of His teachings. So what
does it mean to listen to Jesus? What
does it mean to follow Jesus?
To listen to someone, we have to stop talking. When we truly listen to someone, you let the
other person share what they want to tell you and we open up our ears to HEAR
what they have to say. To follow someone, you have to stop leading yourself and
fall in behind the leader. No matter
which way they turn, you have to walk the same places that they walk. So maybe the best way to weather the storms
of life, is to simply listen with open ears to God’s teachings and follow the
path that Jesus leads us to.
Listening and following both take action. We have to make an EFFORT to obey what Jesus
is teaching us to do. My brother in law
recently gave a sermon and he said that we are either growing or decaying
spiritually. God gives us free will, and
though he shows us the door--we still have to choose open it. Recently, I wrote about how I think my faith
has been shallow to some extent, for I wasn’t applying God’s teachings to my
life. I would come and get fed by reading
his word or hearing a sermon at church, but I wasn’t choosing to WALK
the narrow road in my own life. I
encourage you to go to God in PRAYER and ask him how you can
listen and follow his teachings in your own life, so you can weather all the
storms that may come your way.
Called
to Action
8God
saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this;
it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have
done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us
long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT)
24So
you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith
alone…26Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without
good works. (James 2:24-26, NLT)
Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Faith is believing in what you cannot
see. Being saved by God and inheriting
his promise of eternal life in heaven does not come from doing good deeds in
the world. My bible study said it this
way and I don’t think I have heard Christian faith explained any more simply
then this, “"God saves and forgives us by grace alone through faith alone
in Christ alone."
There has been a lot of confusion regarding the James
passage on good deeds throughout the years.
As my wife said, “If your faith is really ALIVE, then where is the ACTION?” The bible teaches us that if we believe that
Jesus is the son of God and that He died paying the price for all mankind’s
sins on the cross, having been resurrected from death on the third day, that by
the grace of God and our faith in Jesus, we will be saved, thus inheriting
God’s promise of eternal life in heaven.
I believe that as Christians, we are called to ACTION. It takes action for us to walk the narrow
road in life, constantly battling our innate desire to sin. When we apply what God teaches us in our
life, The Good Shepherd’s purpose is fulfilled when we CHOOSE to walk the narrow
road. Jesus says that we should let our
good deeds shine out so brightly, that no darkness can hide it.
See
Image Here: http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs45/i/2009/142/7/9/Your_Choice_is_Your_Way_by_Osokin.jpg
Let
your Light Shine
14“You
are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No
one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on
a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let
your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16, NLT)
What does it mean to be the light of the world? Light is something that enables us to
see. Lamps guide us through the
darkness, showing us the right path to follow.
When we place a lamp on a stand, it illuminates the entire room to
anyone that is near to that lamp. So
maybe our good deeds as Christians can be a light to those who cannot see, and
hopefully those who cannot see will eventually come to praise our heavenly
Father. For I believe no one can be
brought to God and salvation--we can only point them to the THE
WAY.
Walking
the Narrow Road
God calls us to WALK the narrow road. What does it mean to walk? Walking means that we have to pick up each
foot, step forward and take action. We
have to keep our eyes fixed forward, paying attention to our surroundings,
being mindful of dangers, and enjoy the world around us. Some of the best time I spend with my family
is when we take walks around our neighborhood.
I find much rest and peace on those great walks, enjoying neighbors, enjoying
each other and enjoying God’s creation. Though
the narrow road that God calls us to walk can be difficult, when we put into
practice what God has taught us, TRUSTING in what He has shown us, I
believe God blesses each and every one of us with a rich & satisfying life!
No comments:
Post a Comment