Greetings to you in the name of the One who came to express the heart of God on Earth, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! Another one of those days when we simply say – This is the day that God has made, so we will rejoice and be glad in it! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday that allows you to walk through the rest of the week with hope and purpose. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to meet with you in a quiet moment and whisper words of love and acceptance to you – experience his mercy and grace.
This morning I have been reading and pondering the words of Jesus: Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it – Matthew 7:13-14… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me – John 14:6 … I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full – John 10:10. I like it when Jesus says something very simple yet so profound. On first read it would seem that to become a follower of Jesus is to begin a difficult life journey and so – few take it.
However, if I understand it right – it is the entry, the gate into a life of following that is narrow, but the life that is available once you enter in becomes very wide – ‘fullness’ … John 10:10 . In the Old Testament that life is referred to as entering wide open spaces, an enlarged path to walk upon – Psalm 18:19; 2 Samuel 22:37 . The strategic point is that this offer is both – exclusive and inclusive. Exclusive because it is only found in Jesus, but inclusive because it is available for anyone and everyone. Therefore it is a narrow way because it runs counter to our desire to control and be in charge.
I understand that there is an African antelope called, an impala. The impala can jump up to 15 feet in height and 30 feet in distance but it can be controlled in a yard with three foot high fences. The impala needs to see where it is going to land before it will jump…it likes to be in control. In some ways we are like the impala in that we want to know the end before the beginning. It is like reading the last chapter of a book – the ending decides whether the book will be read. However, faith is a deliberate commitment to Jesus Christ even when one cannot see the way ahead…a narrow step into a wide open space.
Be blessed – enjoy the day!