SCRIPTURE: 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 NIV
QUOTE: “No man, in his wits, would choose to go to the gallows, because it is a smooth, pleasant way to it, nor refuse the offer of a palace and a throne, because it is a rough, dirty way to it; yet such absurdities as these are men guilty of, in the concerns of their souls.” – Matthew Henry
THOUGHT: In thinking about these verses over the past few days, I’ve realized there are a lot of ways to be narrow – I’ve tried to avoid them, I think, not really liking the word ‘narrow,’ but have landed there anyway. Some people try to find life by being obsessively narrow with diet and exercise. You’ve probably observed them: uptight, anxious, not really fun to be around, more legalistic than healthy. Some are narrow with maintaining their good looks or the outward appearance of success, hoping for life. Even religion can become a narrow way of seeking life through rules – look at the Pharisees of Jesus’ (or our) day. My narrow way to life became all about pleasing others, but it didn’t lead to life, it led to living like a prisoner. All of these ‘narrow ways’ are really just secondary roads off the broad road that’s full of people seeking, but never finding real life.
But, gratefully, there is a counter-intuitive path that does lead to life, to freedom, to joy and gratitude, only we must pass through a small, unremarkable gate to begin the journey. It won’t be the obvious choice; we won’t be following the crowd. We will have to stoop low, become small like a child, and squeeze through. It’s a lot like being born – getting through the narrow passage called the birth canal in order to breathe.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is recorded as saying, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture (Jn. 10:9 NIV).” I find it refreshing that Jesus doesn’t make going through the gate of himself a perpetual hardship – it’s the way to green grass, eternal nourishment, and the fresh air of peace with God.
PRAYER: Thank you Jesus, for being the gate to such goodness and mercy. We will stoop and squeeze through you to find life.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
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