Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 8, 2015
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13–14
What road do you travel in life? Is it the narrow road of trust in God and others, or is it the wide road of trust in yourself alone? Do you briskly travel down the road of life with the masses, or is your trip more measured and prayerful with a few companions? The wide road may seem more exciting in the beginning, but it is the narrow road that leads to fulfillment.
You may have been on the road of righteousness with Christ for a long time. And now it seems like your Savior is directing you in a direction that is less familiar. The level of faith required to digest the risk is much higher and more daunting. Even within the family of faith there are not that many who have gone where your heavenly Father is asking you to go. How will you respond? Do not be so cautious that you miss Christ’s new direction.
You first enter into the narrow gate of salvation in Jesus and then travel with Him down the fine line of faith and obedience. Those who go through the wide gate of disbelief experience destruction in their lives and souls. So make sure you have entered God’s eternal entrance, and travel with Him deep into absolute abandonment of self.
The gate of grace leads to a road of forgiveness and mercy. You still encounter resistance; potholes of pride pop up, but avoid them by slowing down and reacting with humility and grace. People will come and go on your trip of trust; so enjoy them for this part of the journey. Do not remain disappointed when good people move on. The Lord will lead you to new travel companions required for your next assignment.
Above all, stay focused by faith on the Lord’s leadership. Where He leads you, follow. Where He leads for the future will require more faith than the past. Sometimes He leads with a cloud of limited perception, while other times He gives you the fire of a long-term view. Whichever less traveled road you choose, make sure you journey with Jesus.
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night” (Exodus 13:21).
Prayer: What road am I currently traveling? What road is the Lord leading me to travel?
Related Readings: Genesis 41:45–47; Numbers 10:33; Luke 14:24–26; Acts 16:6
Post/Tweet this today: Enter Here: God’s gate of grace leads to a road of forgiveness and mercy. #roadlesstraveled #wisdomhunters
Taken from the February 7th reading in Seeking Daily the Heart of God v.2
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There are too many bible readers, and church goers who have never actually been saved. They still walk the wide road with all of their friends and they don’t understand that the old “them” was supposed to change when Jesus entered their heart. I still think they are not truly saved. I can see those who have been saved by their new life. I can see them by the change in them. Those who only have head knowledge may be fooling themselves. In hebrew the only part of the body that is associated with knowledge is the heart, the longest eighteen inches in the world is from their head to their heart. There has to be real change. Death to self, and a real difference in their life.
Dear Michael~
Thank you so much for your encouraging words after reading, “Road Less Traveled”. You brought up some very interesting points about the change in those who are truly saved. I am just thankful for the fact that our Heavenly Father truly knows our heart.
“Search me O God and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
I do understand what you are saying and I think this devotional is a strong reminder of the path we choose when we chose HIM.
Thank you Michael, for your thought provoking comments. We are always grateful to hear from our fellow wisdom hunters and look forward to hearing from you again.
Blessings to you and yours.