Daily Bread 3-13-18

The Sermon on the mount(cont'd)

Matthew 7:13,14

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

ref. - Ezk 18:30-32 - Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Lk 13:24 - Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

There is one way and that way is through Jesus Christ. We have no longer been given high priests(only one in Jesus Christ and him forever) and worldly leaders to show us the way. It is through Christ's teaching and faith in his words that we will achieve everlasting life. As the word of God says, my yoke is easy and my burden is light(Mt 11:30). This is true but it is a burden and a yoke that is precise and there are few that will cling to it and not pick up or follow other things along the way. What we must be careful of is that we do not veer either way. There is the burden of the willful sinner(one who knowingly veers from the path and struggles at every turn), and the burden of the concision(one who tries to live out a life of sinlessness but has not sought out the help of the Holy Spirit). These paths are off the narrow path and will lead us to the same place that we would be if we had never met Jesus in the first place. This place being eternal damnation. If we are willing and obedient to one gospel, and that being the gospel that we have been given in Jesus Christ, we will not wander from the narrow path. It will be when we look away or look for another way that we end up on the wrong trail. The best thing that we can do if we catch ourselves wandering is as the reference says in Ezekiel; Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions. Just as we are to go to one another when we have offended each other, we must more importantly go to God in Jesus Christ when we have offended him. That offense comes when we are found in disobedience to his instruction and his example. God did not create us to stray or to fail, we did that on our own, but he did offer us a way to find our way back to the right way. He offered us Jesus Christ. Something that is so simple has become so complicated by the sleight of worldly men and the lack of understanding by worldly teachers. We must pray for the men of God that they will be led by the Holy Ghost and, in turn, lead us down the path that leads to Jesus Christ. As the word says, many will seek to enter in but few will be able. Enter in willingly and submit to the one who not only traveled the path but also created it, that is Jesus Christ. John 14:6 - Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by me. Believe what we have been given and receive what has been prepared for us, the path is narrow but it is there and today is our day to travel it!! Have a great day!!!