The Two Ways

Today’s reading is Matthew 7.

“Oh, man,” the Bible student says, “Jesus’s sermon is hard. I don’t think many people will want to live like this.”

And that is pretty much what Jesus says as He starts to wind down. Each of the last four vignettes in this sermon hammers home the need to do what Jesus says instead of ignoring it. Jesus lets us know that while His yoke is easy, His path is narrow and difficult.

Jesus kicked off the body of His sermon by declaring if we relax any of it, we will be least in the kingdom, followed up with the fact that “least in the kingdom” seems to be another way of saying “not in the kingdom.” As He wraps up this sermon, He heads right back to that idea. Some people will walk along the path of this sermon, but many people won’t.

There are two gates or doors. One is big and wide. Whole groups of people will be found knocking on that door. One is narrow. Only few will be seen knocking on that door. There are two ways or paths. One is easy. There will be plenty of people walking on that way. The other is difficult. Only a few will walk on that one.

If you’ve been following this blog for more than a year, I hope you are already thinking of Psalm 1. The wide way is for those who will walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of scoffers. The narrow way is for those who will meditate on what Jesus has said and taught, not only meditate on it, but also apply it.

Remember this. When you pick the way, you’ve picked the destination. If you pick the wide way, you’ve picked destruction. There is nothing you can do to change that, except choose to head over to the narrow way. You cannot walk the wide way and get the narrow way’s destination. When we walk the narrow way, the majority will be against us. In fact, the majority will persecute us. But the wide way ends in destruction, the narrow in life.

On which gate will you knock? On which path will you walk? Choose wisely.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 7.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What are the differences between the wide way and the narrow way?
3. Why do more people choose the wide way over the narrow way?
4. If someone asked you why they should choose the narrow way, what would you say?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

A Good Father

Today’s reading is Matthew 7.

Jesus taught something revolutionary. In fact, I think it is just as revolutionary today as it was when Jesus said it. He taught, through His discussion of prayer and anxiety in the previous chapter, we don’t have to live or pray like the pagans. We don’t have to stress about all the physical, material, biological concerns worrying so many. Instead, we need to ask for the kingdom first. We need to seek out the kingdom first. He hasn’t done it yet, but in the next couple paragraphs, He is even going to say, in so many words, we need to knock on the gate of the kingdom first.

I don’t know about you, but this makes me a little nervous. Don’t worry about eating? Don’t worry about staying hydrated? Don’t worry about exposure? Just pursue the kingdom? But if those other things don’t get cared for, I’m going to die? What good is having the kingdom if I’m dead? But Jesus says, “Let God worry about those things. You ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom.”

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus explains why we can direct our asking, seeking, and knocking toward the kingdom without worry about everything else. Our God is a good father. Look, I’m a dad. I love my kids. But compared to God, I’m evil. When my kids ask for bread, I don’t give them rocks. When my kids ask for fish, I don’t give them snakes. I give them good things. I give them what they need to the degree I can provide it. How much more will God do the same thing?

This teaching is actually a bit deeper than I have previously realized. Remember, in this sermon, Jesus actually tells us what to ask for, what to seek out, and where to knock. Jesus’s point in Matthew 7:7-11 is not simply that when we want some things we think are good and ask for them, God will give them to us. His point is God has told us the good things to ask for, seek out, and knock on. He is a good God, a good Father; He isn’t going to tell us to ask for stones and snakes. He wants to give us good things. Therefore, the things He tells us to ask for, seek out, and knock on are good things. They will not result in receiving stones and snakes.

The kingdom of God and His righteousness are “bread” and “fish,” not “stones” and “snakes.” In a subtly profound way, once again, Jesus let’s us know when we ask for, seek out, and knock on God’s kingdom and righteousness, God will add all the other things, like food and clothing, to us. Why? Because He is a good Father. He knows what we need even before we ask Him for our needs, even before we seek out our needs, even before we knock on our needs. Therefore, let’s ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom God and His righteousness, because that is what we most need. God will give us the kingdom and everything else we need. That’s just how good of a Father we have.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 7.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why are the kingdom of God and His righteousness such good gifts?
3. Why do we need them more than we need anything else?
4. What advice would you give others to help us ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom without getting worried about all those other needs?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?