The Narrow Gate

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JESUS SPEAKS

“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)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Living as a Christian is more difficult than any other way of life. Not many will choose to follow Christ because all believers are required to embrace selflessness; sacrificing our own desires in the present to better accomplish God’s will. The vast majority of individuals will choose the widest, easiest path; feeding their own flesh to avoid experiencing any present discomfort. Still, the path to eternal life is to die with Christ and be reborn.

According to historical accounts, in 320 A.D., Emperor Lucinius was engaged in the persecution of Christians within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. During this time, we read of an event that took place Near the city of Sebaste. Defying their commanders, approximately 40 honorable soldiers refused to denounce their faith in Jesus Christ. As punishment, they were marched onto a frozen pond and their garments were removed. They were given instructions that if they relented and abandoned their faith they could come back to shore and warm themselves. In defiance, the men rejoiced as they saw their eternal destination fast approaching. One man however, did relent; and yet another soldier who was guarding the men removed his clothes and took his place; confessing his newfound faith in Jesus. They all died, but are still alive in Christ.

Often, like these 40 soldiers, to live according to God’s commandments is to face death and persecution in the present. The path to eternal life is narrow; and not many will choose this sacrificial form of living. However, we should not be depressed or downcast. The Christian life, with all of its difficulties, is utterly amazing. Nothing else can produce overwhelming joy and everlasting peace within the human heart. As we celebrate our future with God, we can rejoice in the present.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and courage to choose what is right and to shun the passing pleasures of sin. May we sacrifice our own desires for the good of Your Kingdom, spreading the gospel message to all those we meet. You alone are the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Facing Corruption

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JESUS SPEAKS

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.“ (Luke 19: 45 – 46)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Although Jesus would soon put an end to temple worship, He expressed a zeal for maintaining the purity of God’s house. As pilgrims arrived for the Passover festival, they were required to bring animals to sacrifice. The religious leaders however, chose to corrupt this process by forcing travelers to purchase animals from them in the temple; at outrageous prices, thus enriching themselves at God’s expense. Jesus restored order and purity by chasing these evil men and their livestock out of the temple.

One night many years ago, the television I was watching landed on a supposedly Christian station. Without giving it much attention, I walked around the apartment as a wealthy preacher expressed the fundamentals of a prosperity doctrine; a doctrine which claims that God wants to bless His followers with wealth and riches beyond measure, but first they must give money to the preacher before their blessing can be realized (this is different than tithing.) These corrupt individuals often prey upon vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. What I heard next was horrifying. The man began to pray, expressing his confidence that God was speaking to those who were watching. According to him, God was telling listeners to give to his ministry even if they were poor and couldn’t afford to donate. He continued, saying something to this effect; “And even if you don’t have money to give, you should reach into your pocket and take out your credit card and use it to give right now.” I promptly changed the channel in disgust.

The world is full of hypocrisy, corruption, and thievery. Some will seek to exploit Christ’s name and His message for their own personal profit. When confronted with such evil behavior, we shouldn’t shrink or fade away. But instead, like Christ, we must stand up and openly profess the truth; making every effort to purify what has been corrupted by man. May we be a light in the darkness, and an example of God’s goodness to everyone we meet.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we always be zealous for You. Guide us through the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we might expose corruption and evil whenever and wherever we encounter it. May we submit to You and obey what is good and right, as we seek to spread the gospel message to the entire world. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Real Jesus

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JESUS SPEAKING

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, “Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Matthew 11: 2-6.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Believing Jesus to be the long awaited messiah, John erred in assuming He would immediately usher in an earthly kingdom; thereby putting an end to the oppressive Roman rule. While in captivity, John had grown impatient; sending messengers to Jesus from his prison cell. ‘Was He truly the long awaited savior; or should they look for another?’ Jesus responded by quoting an ancient prophecy describing the Messiah’s good works. He would heal the blind, raise the dead, and preach the gospel to the poor; the very same acts that Jesus was accomplishing. The Lord then addressed John’s uneasy heart, saying, “Blessed are those who are not offended because of Me.” John was expecting a conquering messiah, not a messiah that would conquer sin through crucifixion. Like John, many today have an inaccurate perception of who the messiah actually is. Knowing the real Jesus is an absolute necessity if we are to properly follow Him.

     Shortly after my conversion, I decided I could no longer call myself a Christian unless I actually knew who Jesus Christ was. I needed to read the bible for myself; knowing that in so doing, many of my previously held beliefs would be challenged and transformed. In order to grab hold of the truth, I had to abandon my fuzzy perceptions of God. As I read the scriptures, I came to accurately know my savior. Still, instead of being disappointed, I was filled with awe and wonder. The real Jesus is far more spectacular than any messiah I could have ever imagined.

    Do you know the real Jesus, or are you clinging to some incorrect perceptions?  Have you invented a messiah, or have you discovered Him? Read His words; uncover His works; His message; and His truth; and you too will find something more amazing than you have ever known; and your life will never be the same.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we seek to know the real Jesus.  Place His words in our hearts, that we might walk as disciples; exhibiting obedience in all that we do. May we never run from the truth, but rather, may we embrace it. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!