THE BROAD AND THE NARROW PATH
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
I must admit I struggle with this passage. How can someone who doesn’t know Jesus cast out demons and perform miracles? I grew up thinking anyone who does miracles must be a super spiritual person. It is hard to reconcile that not everyone who quotes scripture and claims to be a person of God is really in touch with God.
Jesus has just finished talking about two paths—one is broad and full of people the other is narrow and few people find it. The broad way leads to destruction but the narrow to eternal life.
Now Jesus tells us there are false prophets at the gate that leads to the broad way, making it easy for people to enter. But at the end of the broad way, there is destruction. The final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think. The final test is: What will God say?
How can we prepare for this judgment? By doing God’s will. Obedience to His will is the test of true faith in Christ. The test is not words but actions. How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God’s will. When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within (Rom. 8:9); and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father’s will. God’s love in his heart (Rom. 5:5) motivates him to obey God and serve others.
Jesus declared at the end He would say to those on the broad path, “I never knew you.” There is a huge revelation in those words. Jesus is telling us the secret is in knowing Him.
When we spend time with Jesus, we begin to act out of relationship not religion. Our motivation changes and this change comes from relationship.
I want my faith to be proved by the life that I live. I want my motivation to be to please God, do His will, and bring Him glory on earth. I want people to see my lifestyle and praise God for what they see in me. I want people to see Jesus living in me because I have spent time with Jesus. Time in His Word, time in prayer, and time with His family.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please show me anything in my life that is not in alignment with You. I want my faith to be planted in a deep relationship with You. Show me how to strengthen my time with You.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
Lord , I am deeply aware of what isn’t pleasing to you. I have to do a better job at following and obeying your word.
I want to daily be spending time with Jesus.