SCRIPTURE:
““Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’”
Luke 13:24-27
OBSERVATION:
Jesus is using a parable in response to a question asked Him. “Lord, will only a few be saved?”
In other words, “This thing You keep talking about, Your ‘kingdom’, isn’t what I’m doing at the synagogue enough? Work? What’s that?”
They had yet to catch what Jesus had been saying, the whole time He did miracles and preached the Scriptures of old. The same thing John preached before Jesus. Repent of your sins, and turn to God.
APPLICATION:
When you think about it, repenting of our sins IS work. It’s something that, for some reason, we don’t like to do.
Like Jesus’ parable, eating and drinking and hearing the teachings, isn’t enough. Showing up is great, but it is NOT enough.
Presence is NOT relationship. Presence with obedience is what builds a relationship that opens doors. Especially the narrow door of the Master.
I want Jesus to not just know about me. He already does, but He wants me to know about Him, and listen to Him, and most of all, to obey Him. Repenting every day.
Too many want the pass without the work. A healthy relationship takes work. And it’s relationship that makes that narrow door just a bit less narrow.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, that’s one of my most terrifying words in Your word. May I continue to strive for the narrow door—not to work my way in, but because love for You compels me to work on my relationship with You. I love You Lord Jesus! Amen.
