Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
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.
Our Verse of the Day is one that is often quoted and has been used in many sermons. But is it one that we deeply think about? Does its message strengthen your faith?
Tucked within the list of teachings that Jesus delivered in what has been called His Sermon on the Mount (Cf. Matthew 5-7), Jesus inserts this statement that should make us all pause for a moment to consider the magnitude of what He said. “Enter through the narrow gate,” He cried out. Enter into what? He answers, “The road or path that leads to LIFE … eternal life in heaven.” And He comments, or perhaps laments, only a FEW find it…. What a poignant statement for anyone seeking God to ponder…. And if you look further at Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus clarifies: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” It is one thing for a person to know about Jesus … it is quite another to know Him and for Him to know you. Indeed, the wide, open road of religion will not lead anyone to heaven. Jesus is telling the world: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (Cf. John 14:6-7)
Luke 13:22-30 (NIV)
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
My friends, if anyone wants to have true life … eternal life … then he or she must know Jesus and He must know them. What does this imply? Well, to begin a relationship, you must introduce yourself to Him. You must call upon His Name. You must come to Him in faith; for without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Cf. Hebrews 11:6) Yes, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Cf. Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:11) And if you know Jesus as Lord, then you are His servant. If you know Him, you will hear and listen to His voice. You will desire a genuine, intimate relationship with Jesus through reciprocation of His love. You cannot be intimate if you never spend time with Jesus or talk with Him or seek Him in prayer. Indeed, if you want Jesus to know you, then become His disciple; and know that whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Him. (Cf. Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)
Here are some additional scriptures for your study today:
John 10:7-10; 14-16 (NIV)
Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
1 John 5:12-13 (NIV)
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.
Revelation 3:19-21 (NIV)
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
So Now You Know…
Have a Blessed Day!
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore, once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish and the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” ~ Isaiah 29:13-14
So Now You Know 