"Enter by the narrow gate….Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…." —Matthew 7:13-14
“If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in— it stirs us up to overcome. .... a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting our faith into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us. […] God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Our new life in Christ requires that we put God first and that we pursue the disciplines of the faith to mature in our faith. It doesn’t just happen. It requires work .. determination … consistency … accountability. You will not be successful on your own. Dr. Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, said every Christian needs a Paul, a Barnabus, and a Timothy in their lives. A Paul to teach us, to build to our lives, a Barnabus to encourage us and hold us accountable, and a Timothy into whose life we can build. You don’t need a seminary degree to do those things … but you do need to be spiritually disciplined. You will face difficult times … but you can endure them … you will face temptations to yield to your flesh … but you can resist them … God has given you everything you need. You only have to put it into practice.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
In Philippians the apostle Paul put it this way “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:8-9
That doesn’t happen without determined effort, but when it does your light will shine before all men. A country western song comes to mind - where God might be saying to me - "I beg your pardon! I don't remember promising you a rose garden or a cake walk." This climb of life is steep. The path is full of hazards. Your journey cannot be accomplished without the power of God. And even stumbling along the way.
Just yesterday I spoke with a friend who is looking at the mountain he must climb. It is daunting. Full of uncertainties and "what ifs". I reminded him that where God guides, God provides. We walk by faith and not by sight. Let me stop before I write a book! But remember.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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