Matthew 7:12-14
There are people who obsess over the idea of the narrow gate or how hard the life is that leads to it. This may be justification for "it's my way or the highway" rule of living. There are many churches that have the incredible arrogance to believe that they are the narrow gate. Only through them can salvation be found. They are the one true church. LOL
But I would like you to consider the idea that the narrow gate is yourself. That does make the gate extremely narrow. The wide gate that leads to destruction is trying to be everyone for everybody. The wide gate is not being true to yourself. The narrow gate is the difficult and lifelong task of knowing yourself, appreciating yourself and sharing yourself with the rest of God's created world. It's no easy task discovering all there is to know about yourself. There are strengths, weaknesses, talents, gifts all unique to you. Some are difficult to discern and not appreciated by society. Some are joyfully expressed and recognized. We are to discover them all, use them all and that is the narrow gate.
Some people wander through life without purpose, committed to nothing, caring for only themselves (in a selfish way) and no introspection, no self examination. Could that gate get any wider?
Of course the narrow gate is surely exemplified by the two great commandments. On a intimately personal level, the gate is narrowed by how we personally live our life, how we share our love in only a way we can do it. God did not make automatons, he made us unique and special and in His (or Her) image. What is the image of God within us that helps us save the world? We have a gift only we can bring to the table. That narrow gate.
But I would like you to consider the idea that the narrow gate is yourself. That does make the gate extremely narrow. The wide gate that leads to destruction is trying to be everyone for everybody. The wide gate is not being true to yourself. The narrow gate is the difficult and lifelong task of knowing yourself, appreciating yourself and sharing yourself with the rest of God's created world. It's no easy task discovering all there is to know about yourself. There are strengths, weaknesses, talents, gifts all unique to you. Some are difficult to discern and not appreciated by society. Some are joyfully expressed and recognized. We are to discover them all, use them all and that is the narrow gate.
Some people wander through life without purpose, committed to nothing, caring for only themselves (in a selfish way) and no introspection, no self examination. Could that gate get any wider?
Of course the narrow gate is surely exemplified by the two great commandments. On a intimately personal level, the gate is narrowed by how we personally live our life, how we share our love in only a way we can do it. God did not make automatons, he made us unique and special and in His (or Her) image. What is the image of God within us that helps us save the world? We have a gift only we can bring to the table. That narrow gate.
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
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