Apicontent

“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!” —Matthew 7:13–14

Jesus is the gate to righteousness and the way of righteousness! He is the entrance through which we may enter into God’s provision. He is also the only way for our access to God the Father:

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” —John 14:6

Contrary to what many believe, salvation is not obtained in a myriad of ways. There is no other way by which we are saved, except through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In preaching to the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law, Peter said:

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12

In our verses for today, Jesus sets before us two choices. If you will, curtain A or curtain B. Clearly, the path of destruction or the path of life. There was no middle way then, there is no middle way now, and there will be no middle way in the future.

God has a way of never changing. Jesus did not come saying He wanted just a part of us.

“Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” —Luke 9:23

We do not work to be saved, rather we work because we are saved. We do not have a right to grace but have been given the privilege of grace. This privilege makes us appreciative, humble, and desirous to serve. Grace is not something we deserve; it is a gift. The narrow way will always lead us away from ourselves and straight to Jesus. Everything in the gospel is about our Lord.

We are not to build our hopes of righteousness upon our works. As an old hymn says, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” 

Paul tells us our sure foundation is Jesus!

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” —1 Corinthians 3:10–15

Become More

“We do the works, but God works in us the doing of the works.” —Augustine

“What ultimately keeps our motives biblically prioritized and holy before God is the profound conviction that obeying God will merit us nothing. This is why Jesus tells us that, when we have done all that we should do, we are still unprofitable servants. Jesus does not nullify the value of duty in order to dissuade us from serving God, but to keep is from depending on duty to gain God’s acceptance. When we understand that our works in themselves earn us no merit with God, then the only reason to do those works is love for Him. Thus we learn to serve God not for personal gain but for His glory-not for love of self but for love of the Savior.” —Bryan Chapell

Further Reflections

“So Jesus said again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture.” —John 10:7–9

“Our nature struggles fiercely against being saved without our works and tries to deceive us with a grand illusion of our own righteousness. So we may find ourselves attracted to a life that merely appears to be righteous. Or because we know we aren’t righteous, we may be frightened by death or sin. Therefore, we must learn that we should have nothing to do with any other way of becoming righteous, except through Christ alone.” —Martin Luther

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.” —Matthew 7:7–12

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught us how to bring glory and honor to God through our prayers by giving us the model of the Lord’s Prayer. In our verses for today, He teaches us to pray, pray, and keep on praying!

I am reminded of Paul’s words:

“Constantly pray.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17

Jesus assures us that God welcomes our prayers and urges us to come to Him persistently and continuously. God is discovered by those who earnestly seek Him. Indeed, as our Great High Priest in heaven, Scripture tells us Jesus is at the right hand of God living to intercede on our behalf setting forth for us the perfect example:

“But he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” —Hebrews 7:24–25

We must approach God as His children, as we might approach our earthly fathers, expectantly, confidently, and with complete trust that He will never withhold anything from us which will be for our ultimate good. We can be sure He has full knowledge of what is best for us and we can rest securely in what His hand allows in our lives.

Throughout the Bible, God compares His love and concern for His children to both an earthly father and a mother. However, His compassion, tenderness, and goodness far surpass that of any earthly parent. God is infinitely wise in what He bestows. Earthly parents can be foolish, being permissive without having the wisdom to show restraint. This can often lead to the ultimate detriment of the child. God is able to give us anything, yet in His infinite wisdom He withholds anything that He knows will harm us:

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers. Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne?” — Psalm 103:13

“Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you! Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are constantly before me.” —Isaiah 49:15–16

James tells us:

“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” —James 1:17

Become More

“Pleading the promises of God is the whole secret of prayer.” —Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.” —Psalm 84:11

Further Reflections

“Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer … maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.” —Oswald Chambers

“When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’” —Jeremiah 29:12–14

“You know the value of prayer; it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it.” —Thomas Buxton

“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.” —Matthew 7:6

This verse reminds me of Jesus’ words regarding the hypocritical Pharisee’s reaction to His teaching:

“Then the disciples came to him and said, ‘Do you know that when the Pharisees heard this saying they were offended?’ And he replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. Leave them! They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.’” —Matthew 15:12–14

Who can help those who hate reproof? Who can heal and help those who refuse to be healed and helped? Jesus tells us we are to be passionate for God’s truth, yet that passion must be guided by discretion. We are not to go about giving instruction and counsel to those who are hardened and seek with pleasure to trample our words and tear us to pieces. Good counsel and reproof are sacred things and God’s ordinances are as pearls. Scripture tells us a fool avoids wisdom and understanding—always, sadly, to his own harm. A fool is his own worst enemy.

“It is an honor for a person to cease for strife, but every fool quarrels.” —Proverbs 20:3

“Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.” —Proverbs 23:9

As believers, we are to manifest a correction of our culture rather than to be a reflection of it. We earn the right to be heard by what we do. When those around us see a life that talks like Christ, yet walks no differently than they do, there will be no kingdom impact. When our hearts are changed, our lives are to be changed.

“The good news of the gospel is not that God will provide a way to make life easier. The good news of the gospel, for this life, is that He will make our lives better. We will be empowered to draw close to God and to love others well and to do both for one central purpose, to glorify God, to make Him look good to any who watch us live.” —Larry Crabb

If we are not changed by the power of the Spirit, choosing rather to blend with the world, what kind of pathetic impact is that? Believers are to be different from the ways of the world! Sadly, God’s Word often falls on deaf ears and is met with argumentative mindsets even on hearts that are perhaps readied to hear the truth. Remember, wisdom is always proved right by what she does. If we truly believe God’s Word, our lives will reflect it.

Become More

“The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.” —Proverbs 12:15

Further Reflection

“A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.” —Proverbs 17:10

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” —Matthew 7:1–5

In our verses for today, Jesus warns against the hypocritical judging of another. Jesus continually preached against a pious attitude that tears others down rather than seeks to help build them up. We are to strictly scrutinize ourselves and our own actions (which should keep us quite busy!), and not judge our brothers and sisters. The traits we often dislike in others are so often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Our unbridled and untamed passions and habits are the very ones we seem to want to change in those around us.

The Bible teaches us to think rightly and to live rightly which enables us to live a life of value to ourselves and to others. When we judge others, God states He will use on us the same measurement of judgment we have used. Scripture says that we are called to counsel and reprove one another, but we are not to judge. This requires a proper attitude of humility and love, always seeking what is best for the one we counsel. We are to deal with others the same way the Lord Jesus has dealt with us—full of mercy and love! Those struggling often need our encouragement and not our criticism. Is our goal to build up or tear someone to shreds?

“Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.” —Jude 22–23

God is the only One who is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. We are not to be uncharitable or unmerciful, having a spirit of revenge, hypocrisy, pride, or harm. Duplicity is detestable to God and He hates hypocrisy. Anytime we are severe on the faults of others while indulging in like behavior, we are nothing more than hypocrites. We must remember Scripture tells us that mercy always triumphs over judgment:

“Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?” —James 2:12–14

Become More

“The pearl of justice is found in the heart of mercy.” —Catherine of Siena

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” —Jesus (Luke 6:36)

Further Reflection

“Nothing graces the Christian soul as much as mercy.” —Ambrose

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” —Matthew 6:25–34

Worry, fret, anxiety, a troubled spirit, or a disquieted heart—none are proper for a child of the King. Simply put, Christians are not to worry!

When we worry, it demonstrates to the world our lack of faith, our loss of joy, and our inability to appreciate what the hand of God has provided. We worry when we are overly concerned about getting what we think we want. Sometimes our “wanting” may simply need to be fixed! What each and one of us really desires, whether we know it or not, is to be smack dab in the center of God’s perfect and pleasing will!

Anxiety takes our eyes off the Provider, Jesus, and places them on our weaknesses and inabilities. God takes pleasure in those who hope in His goodness and mercy! Worry is quite pointless unless, of course, we enjoy ulcers and high blood pressure. Jesus is earnest in warning us against worry because it is so distracting, distrustful, and a waste of our energies. Jesus desired for His followers not to be torn apart in their minds and spirits.

Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in Philippians:

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6–7

It is God’s delight for us to dwell at ease in Him. He gives His children exactly what we need! God is faithful and loving, satisfying our desires with good things. When we fret over our circumstances, we question God’s goodness and faithfulness. The Psalmist proclaims:

“You open your hand, and fill every living thing with the food they desire.” —Psalm 145:16

Jesus did not say the person who takes no thought of anything for his life will be blessed. One that merely sits at home and does not work with his mouth open to be fed is nothing but a fool. What Jesus did teach His disciples is that our relationship with God is to be the dominating focus of our lives. We are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are to be cautiously carefree regarding everything else in comparison to that. It is a matter of priorities.

Paul tells us in Colossians:

“Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.” —Colossians 3:23–24

Become More

“Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.” —Oswald Chambers

Further Reflections

“There is unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God.” —Ann Voskamp

“All worry is a desperate wanting of my own way.” —Ann Voskamp

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” —Charles Spurgeon

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” —Matthew 6:24

As I read this verse, the first commandment flashes through my mind. It is a simple call for submission in every area of one’s life to the rule of God:

“You must not have any other gods besides me.” —Deuteronomy 5:7

This begs the question of us all—to what or to whom do we cling? To what or to whom do we allow our devotions to become attached? What commands our attention, consumes our thoughts? Just exactly where do our loyalties lie?

Jesus tells us in Scripture that a divided house will not stand. We cheat our own souls when we seek to divide our loyalties between God and the world, between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven, between pleasing God and pleasing man.

Scripture does not say we must not or we should not, rather we cannot serve both God and the things of this world. Christians are to resist the seductive influence of the glitz of the created.

John tells us:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.” —1 John 2:15–17

The psalmist says:

“I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven. Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes will look to the LORD, our God, until he shows us favor.” —Psalm 123:1–2

I find it extremely interesting that the words translated “devoted to” in our verse for today are from the Greek word antecho meaning: “to hold firmly, to cleave to and to be loyal and devoted to. The word portrays one holding an object directly in front of himself before his gaze, squarely across from himself before his face, and thus closely or near, in order to give his attention to the object” (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, New Testament Lexical Aids).

I am confident that is why Paul tells us that we are to strive earnestly to focus our attention on things above, concentrating on the eternal rather than the temporal:

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” — Colossians 3:1–4

We must individually choose what, or whom we will serve. Just as Joshua told the Israelites:

“Now obey the LORD and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the LORD. If you have no desire to worship the LORD, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the LORD.” —Joshua 24:14–15

Become More

“We make our choices and then our choices make us. Our everyday choices reveal what we really desire. The essence of sin is pride. The heart of sin is independence and the core of sin is demanding my own way instead of God’s.” —Pat Singleterry

Further Reflections

“That to which your heart clings is your god.” —Martin Luther

“Jesus said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” —Matthew 22:37–38

“Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.” —Abba Poemen

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” —Matthew 6:22–23

What is it we set our sights on? Is our spiritual vision tainted by what the world offers? Do we prostitute ourselves by going after the desires of our own hearts and eyes? We are to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord! We are to live our lives before an audience of One!

I am reminded of the poor example of Eve. We are told in Genesis that by her maintaining a selfish desire, she fell, dragging her husband down with her:

“When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.” —Genesis 3:6

Do not be mistaken, we never sin as unto ourselves. Sadly, it will always affect those around us. The ripple effect goes on and on.

“Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame: thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. “The hypocrite soars like the kite, with his eye on the prey below. The true Christian soars like the lark, higher and higher, forgetting the things that are beneath.” —Matthew Henry

We must be careful to guard ourselves against worldliness. We are to be sojourners and ambassadors for Christ! Our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. The Christian, like the traveler, must have their eye on the journey’s end. Our spiritual vision is to have the capacity to see clearly the right road—God’s path.

Solomon’s wisdom rings true:

“Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.” — Proverbs 17:24

Surely the writer of Hebrews was on target when he tells us where our gaze should remain:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.” —Hebrews 12:1–3

Become More

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” —Colossians 3:1–4

Further Reflection

“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:10