What Jesus Did! - The Less Taken Way

"Enter through the narrow gate {that opens the way to heaven}. The road that leads to hell is a very easy road. And the gate to hell is very wide. Many people enter that gate. But the gate that opens the way to {true} life is very small. And the road to {true} life is very difficult (hard). Only a few people find that road.
- Matthew 7:13-14 (ERV)

THOUGHT:

Limits, restrictions, rules and judgment -- these are the "cuss words" of modern society. The world around us responds, "We don't like them; we don't want them. We are going to criticize anyone who believes in them." So almost no one talks about these words. When someone does, there is an immediate backlash of criticism.

But the bottom line is simply this: when left to our own way, the way of our own choosing, we nearly always end up at war with others or create a mess of things. Most people walk down that big wide road without ever even thinking about it. But, with no set of sure values, no real sense of right and wrong, and no understanding of our need for redemption, the wide road's destination is always disaster. Jesus challenges his disciples and also challenges us. He wants us to walk down the less taken path. Yes, it's a harder path to travel, but it brings ultimate liberation and victory. We know, because he's already walked that path before us!

PRAYER:

Righteous and Holy God, give me strength this day that I may walk your straight path and not be led astray by the masses that refuse to hear your voice or live according to your will. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scriptures:

Don't be fooled: "Bad friends will ruin good habits." - 1 Corinthians 15:33

Now do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No! God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Jesus Christ. - Galatians 1:10

"Not every person that says that I am his Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people that will enter the kingdom of heaven are those people that do the things that my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. ' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.' - Matthew 7:21-23