Matthew 7:13-14; 16:24
The power of choice. Decisions. Every day we make on average 30,000+ choices. The list is endless; what to eat, what to wear, which way to turn, what to read, what to say, what to watch. . . . and if you are like me, sometimes you have trouble making decisions. God has given believers freewill; a God-given ability" to choose. We can choose obedience or disobedience. We can choose to love or to hate. We can choose to accept or reject Jesus.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us commands and instructions that show us how to choose well and how He wants us to live, but He still allows us to decide. Are any of you a fan of the 1960’s robot series, “Lost in Space”? The robot frequently warned of danger. I tell myself that I need that in my life - danger Will Robinson. Fun fact. In all of the 83 episodes, that phrase “danger Will Robinson” was only used once and yet I’ve carried with me through the years.
Today’s scripture is a call by Jesus to choose between two paths. Matthew 7:13-14 “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.”
Enter the narrow gate. It’s a command to take urgent action. The gate Jesus invites us to choose is narrow and the road is straight. It’s arduous and takes diligence. It’s a daily, intentional commitment and our life depends on these choices. Pastor John wrote, “THIS was the watershed moment. Every person faces this moment – will I accept or reject Jesus?! Many people ‘come close’ but never actually become disciples because when they compare what they would “lose” to what they will gain, the loss seems too large to experience.”
Friends, we must choose the way of wisdom. We must learn to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This means we are to abandon self-interest, evict personal agendas, and reject the need to control our lives. It is a daily, voluntary act of surrendering control and letting God take the lead. We don’t run from suffering, we embrace it. Let us be a people who choose to align our lives with Jesus’ example and teaching. What will you do? Not making a choice is a choice. Make wise choices!
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us commands and instructions that show us how to choose well and how He wants us to live, but He still allows us to decide. Are any of you a fan of the 1960’s robot series, “Lost in Space”? The robot frequently warned of danger. I tell myself that I need that in my life - danger Will Robinson. Fun fact. In all of the 83 episodes, that phrase “danger Will Robinson” was only used once and yet I’ve carried with me through the years.
Today’s scripture is a call by Jesus to choose between two paths. Matthew 7:13-14 “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.”
Enter the narrow gate. It’s a command to take urgent action. The gate Jesus invites us to choose is narrow and the road is straight. It’s arduous and takes diligence. It’s a daily, intentional commitment and our life depends on these choices. Pastor John wrote, “THIS was the watershed moment. Every person faces this moment – will I accept or reject Jesus?! Many people ‘come close’ but never actually become disciples because when they compare what they would “lose” to what they will gain, the loss seems too large to experience.”
Friends, we must choose the way of wisdom. We must learn to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” This means we are to abandon self-interest, evict personal agendas, and reject the need to control our lives. It is a daily, voluntary act of surrendering control and letting God take the lead. We don’t run from suffering, we embrace it. Let us be a people who choose to align our lives with Jesus’ example and teaching. What will you do? Not making a choice is a choice. Make wise choices!
Posted in Devotional