MATTHEW 7: 12-14...
12+++“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13+++“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14+++“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
We must do that to our neighbour which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances with those we have to do with, and act accordingly.
There are but two ways right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the one or other of these all are walking: there is no middle place hereafter, no middle way now.
All the children of men are saints or sinners, godly or ungodly. See concerning the way of sin and sinners, that the gate is wide, and stands open. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to appetites or passions. It is a broad way; there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways. There is a large company in this way. But what profit is there in being willing to go to hell with others, because they will not go to heaven with us?
The way to eternal life is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we are got through the strait gate. Self must be denied, the body kept under, and corruptions mortified. Daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done. We must watch in all things, and walk with care; and we must go through much tribulation. And yet this way should invite us all; it leads to life: to present comfort in the favour of God, which is the life of the soul; to eternal bliss, the hope of which at the end of our way, should make all the difficulties of the road easy to us.
This plain declaration of Christ has been disregarded by many who have taken pains to explain it away; but in all ages the real disciple of Christ has been looked on as a singular, unfashionable character; and all that have sided with the greater number, have gone on in the broad road to destruction. If we would serve God, we must be firm in our religion. Can we often hear of the strait gate and the narrow way, and how few there are that find it, without being in pain for ourselves, or considering whether we are entered on the narrow way, and what progress we are making in it?
Part of the problem for us IS that we listen to, and heed each other MORE than we do THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS WILL! So, over time, lessons have been twisted to our liking, and lessened in their imperative powers to LEAD us, protect us, and guard us as we journey this valley of darkness...
FAITH IS crucial, and THE FOUNDATION on which we BUILD our relationship with CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, and SAVIOUR, BUT IN that FAITH, IS FAITHFULNESS, which IS premised on LOVE, RESPECT, REGARD, and FEAR OF HIM, AND which SEES us existing IN fidelity TO HIS WILL, and COVENANT, AT LEAST in the best of our capacities, which ARE increased BY knowledge, understanding, and application OF HIS DECREES, and PRECEPTS. However, partial teachings HAVE left out that we MUST become selfless, upright, moral, and much, much more; NONE of which is too difficult for us, though many moan as if it were! Just as in ancient times, people DON'T want to hear, or see that THEY HAVE DUTIES, and RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COVENANT, and IN THE PLAN; they simply, wish to proclaim CHRIST JESUS, as their LORD, and expect forgiveness eternal, and NEVER accommodate HIM, or HIS WILL, instead they long to run free, while putting it all on HIM. Listen, *GOD* HAS FULFILLED HIS part of THE COVENANT, the rest IS on us, even though it IS THROUGH HIM, and THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT we fulfill ours, we HAVE the responsibility OF abiding, and adhering TO HIS WILL, and WAYS...
WHEN we ARE OF CHRIST, we HAVE DIED to the world, and have come ALIVE to THE KINGDOM, which we WILL share in forever, and ever! We FOCUS ON HIM, and HIS WAYS, AS we REMAIN IN HIM, and OPEN TO HIS works in us, and through us! NONE of this we do alone, or for show, instead, FOR HIS GLORY, and the sake of lost souls, for you see, WHEN HE IS IN us, HE SHINES through us, THAT those lost in the darkness might notice HIM, seek HIM, find HIM, and follow HIM, HENCE, we ARE CO-PARTNERS WITH THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, VIA our HUMBLED state OF OBEDIENCE TO HIM!!!
Now, THIS IS what people TRY to ignore, or fight against; they DON'T wish to surrender their worldliness; their free will they cherish, and find hard to part with! Yah, it is our choice, but few of our choices work FOR us, especially if we are uninformed, or thinking of what is yet to come, which WILL COME, and when it does, oh the staggering number of those who will cry and insist that they should be SAVED!!!
THE WHOLE BIBLE depicts that THE WILL OF *GOD* FOR HIS PEOPLE IS HOLINESS, and while we won't obtain it fully in this trek, we CAN become more, and more so, BY HONOURING HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, in which case we LEARN about FROM HIS WORD!!!
HOW true it is when CHRIST JESUS says; "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? MATTHEW 16: 26! THIS IS WHY there are scores of people entering the gate of destruction, as they follow one another, and have little, if any, regard for their REALITY, which IS THE SOUL, which BELONGS TO *GOD*, and IS THAT CREATED IN HIS IMAGE, FOR ETERNITY! SCORES will be lost BECAUSE they either have no clue, or have been wrongly informed, or just can't find the self control to FOLLOW HIM instead of the crowds!!!
This week, let us REALLY CONSIDER this message, and search ourselves deeply to see where we are at, as we PRAY for greater knowledge, understanding, and the will to make it well for our souls!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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