Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. Luke 13:24
Had this verse on my mind recently.
"'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ' I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.' Lk.13:25-27
"....alway pressing on toward Jerusalem" That was Jesus. And that needs to be us....pressing on toward that New Jerusalem.
Reflecting on how hard it is in life to keep our eyes and focus on Jesus, and how easy it is to be distacted by so many other things, particularly pain and pleasure. Feeling burdened today for my daughter's hearts and all those we care about. So many things press in on them. So many things are incessantly demanding their attention. And the King of their hearts, the lover of their souls, and ours, whispers. And I pray that they hear Him, and that all of us hear Him.
Much family late night discussion about what it means to love and care for someone, even when, or maybe, especially when, we disapprove of their lifestyle or at least know that God does. And how do we keep from becoming dull and desensitized to the realities of Heaven. How do we die to this life and realize that our real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Jesus was very purposeful. He would teach people things, but He was on his way somewhere, and He would teach as He went along. He didn't get distracted by all the seemingly-legitimate needs, all the demands, the social pressures, the human expectations. His mission went beyond teaching. There was something leading him forward, always forward, to do what he was called to do.
I want us all to find that narrow gate. To work hard to enter it....working like an athlete training for a marathon....working toward the finish line. In all of our desire to not be disliked, to make sure that we're extending love and acceptance, that we're never discriminating and always understanding; help us to remember that though his love is high and wide and deep and long; the gate is narrow and there are few that find it. Many are choked out by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth and just the plain old desire for "other things", and they get lost along the path and miss the gate. There is only one way to find God.
"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ....Yes, I am the gate."
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
Had this verse on my mind recently.
"'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ' I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.' Lk.13:25-27
"....alway pressing on toward Jerusalem" That was Jesus. And that needs to be us....pressing on toward that New Jerusalem.
Reflecting on how hard it is in life to keep our eyes and focus on Jesus, and how easy it is to be distacted by so many other things, particularly pain and pleasure. Feeling burdened today for my daughter's hearts and all those we care about. So many things press in on them. So many things are incessantly demanding their attention. And the King of their hearts, the lover of their souls, and ours, whispers. And I pray that they hear Him, and that all of us hear Him.
Much family late night discussion about what it means to love and care for someone, even when, or maybe, especially when, we disapprove of their lifestyle or at least know that God does. And how do we keep from becoming dull and desensitized to the realities of Heaven. How do we die to this life and realize that our real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Jesus was very purposeful. He would teach people things, but He was on his way somewhere, and He would teach as He went along. He didn't get distracted by all the seemingly-legitimate needs, all the demands, the social pressures, the human expectations. His mission went beyond teaching. There was something leading him forward, always forward, to do what he was called to do.
I want us all to find that narrow gate. To work hard to enter it....working like an athlete training for a marathon....working toward the finish line. In all of our desire to not be disliked, to make sure that we're extending love and acceptance, that we're never discriminating and always understanding; help us to remember that though his love is high and wide and deep and long; the gate is narrow and there are few that find it. Many are choked out by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth and just the plain old desire for "other things", and they get lost along the path and miss the gate. There is only one way to find God.
"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ....Yes, I am the gate."
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
Good words. Hard issues. I am the door...somehow that's the key. Funny, I heard a man explaining this to his little foster care boy in church on Sunday, how the Shepherd laid himself down to be the door of the sheep. Have been thinking today of this analogy of the dumb sheep and our essential need to follow the shepherd, after reading David James Duncan story: "Her Idiots" (about a shepherdess) in River Teeth. I love his writing. The Brothers K was unforgettable! Thanks for this. Glad to see you here ( :
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