Tag: Strait Gate

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Plenty of Room

OCTOBER 24

MATTHEW 7:13_for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction…

There is the second gate. Jesus describes it as wide and broad. You won’t need any help finding that gate. It’s wide. How could you miss it? When you reach an accountable age, your eyes are opened to two gates; you’ll see the widest first. The size makes it visible, and more tempting. 

Because of its size, you see something else—how easy it is to enter. The wideness allows you to bring all kinds of baggage. 

Not only is the gate wide, but once inside the way is broad. If in the baggage you brought along some pride, there would be plenty of room to add to it—until it becomes arrogance. If you brought just a little bit of a grudge, there would be plenty of room to add to it—until it becomes hate and bitterness.

Jesus’ words are plain: this broad way leads to destruction. Count on it! Psalm 27:11 (KJV), “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

Make the choice in your youth to enter the strait gate. It will save you numerous regrets in your adult life.          

PRAYER

God Who Saves, Please save me from entering the destructive path of life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.        

Christ saves me from the wide gate—I will follow Him!

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A Prerequisite

OCTOBER 23

MATTHEW 7:13_Enter ye in at the strait gate…

Jesus teaches there are two ways to enter this trip called life. Each entrance has a gate.

Jesus said to enter at the strait gate. A path designed to lead you to treasure—an abundance of treasures. Treasures only God can give—which make them far more valuable than anything the world offers. Things like: I Timothy 6:6 (KJV), “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment is one grand treasure! Stop and think for a moment what life would be like if you were content. That means you would be satisfied—not constantly wanting, changing, or re-arranging. It does not mean you shouldn’t ask, seek, or knock for improvements. It simply means you know the peace that comes with being satisfied. 

Notice a requirement prerequisites this kind of contentment: godliness. When you enter at the strait gate, you will find godliness before you find contentment.

Psalm 5:8 (KJV), “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” 

Psalm 31:3 (KJV), “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.”

Psalm 25:4 (KJV), “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.”

Ask God to help you enter at the strait gate.

PRAYER

Righteous Lord, I don’t know how to find the strait gate, but I can follow You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                 

Christ leads to the strait gate—I will follow Him!

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That Good and Better

OCTOBER 22

MATTHEW 7:13_Enter ye in at the strait gate…

Your world entry: you are born. Your adulthood entry: you make decisions for yourself.

There is always some form of authority—first and foremost God’s. When parents no longer pick you up, take you places, or make decisions for you, it is time to spread your wings and fly!

Jesus wants you to enter this new (adult) life through the strait gate. You’ve heard about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? God has something that good and better through the strait gate! 

Jesus has not quite completed His sermon, but everything He has taught thus far leads to the right path. By the time you reach the end of this sermon, you will have uncovered an extremely large treasure (and this is only three chapters out of the entire Bible!).

John 14:2-5 (KJV), “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

Thomas wasn’t sure about the way. Jesus’ says it’s the strait gate!

PRAYER

Eternal God, I want to enter in at the strait gate. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                 

Christ is the strait gate—He will lead me!

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While I Wait

DECEMBER 29

MATTHEW 7:29_ For he taught them as one having authority…

Freedom is the underlying principle of this entire sermon. You can add this to your freedom count as to how many times I’ve said this in the past year.

Jesus taught this sermon as The Great Healer. He gave lessons to ease worry and anxiety, and heal the soul. The healing of the soul is an important part of healing the body.   

Jesus taught as The Great Hope. Apart from Him I can do nothing good or righteous. With Him—nothing shall be impossible. Something else to add to your how many times this has been said the past year is: God controls the time table. Only He knows when my impossibilities will become possible—but I have hope! Hope keeps me on the straight and narrow while I wait.

Jesus taught as The Great Deliverer. He has shown me He can deliver me from darkness to light! Not only that—He can use me to be light!! He can use me to be salt! I can cause others to thirst for truth only Jesus can give.

Jesus taught as The Master Stonemason. One step at the time He taught me to build my life. Truth is the setting and freedom is the foundation. The architectural design for a home is reflected in a beautiful setting.

Jesus taught me how to achieve that.

 PRAYER

Lord of Lords, I want to build my life in Your setting of truth. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ gives me all I need to live like Him—Hallelujah!

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God Events

DECEMBER 22

MATTHEW 7:28_And it came to pass…

Many God events occur in life – from birth to death. Some give joy and some pain, but each is designed to strengthen your walk on the narrow path.

With time it will come to pass that you recognize God’s hand in these events. The good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow, are tools in the hands of The Great Deliverer. He uses them to defeat the circumstances of life which can keep you in a pit. I know you want God to just reach in and pull you up without all these God events, but time is how God works. Your life of freedom will come to pass.

Reading this devotional blog is a God designed event.

Designed to bring you to Jesus.

To obey His creation principles taught in this sermon.

To develop a transformed heart able to truly love. 

As you read these devotionals you become part of the people who gathered on a mountain and listened to Jesus teach. They were a combination of different personalities with a variety of different needs, hopes, and dreams.

I don’t know if Jesus taught this sermon in a day or a week, but time came to pass for everyone listening.     

 PRAYER

Prince of Peace, Help me see Your designed events in my life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ events help me stay on the path—I will!