The Narrow Road

         "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."-Matthew 7:13-14

      This verse means the world to me right now when I feel like there are 3 or more roads that I could take. It seems like every choice has at least 3 roads whether it has to do with career, friendships, or just everyday things. I have never noticed what this verse really means until now. 
      "Enter through the narrow gate" means just go down the road God has for you. That I get but it is so hard to tell which one is which. Like the next sentence says, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that lead to destruction". Do I want to enter the wide gate with so many choices that I could pick the wrong choice and go down the wrong path? How can I stop myself from going down to destruction? It says, "many enter through it". Is that because they don't trust God with their lives? Is it because they don't listen with their Spirit? Is it because they want the easy way out instead of the hard way out?
      "Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life". What does that mean? It means that you can only make one out of those 3 choices because only one choice can lead you to the life that is worth living for. For many people, it is a hard path but worth living. Most people are scared to take that path because it is hard and you really do have to trust God with your all. You have to stick with it all the way no matter what times you have. You might seem weak or you might seem like you are not being used in the way God wants you to be used but in a way you are because God put you there. Life with God is not always easy because He wants us to depend on Him. 
       "Only a few find it" because only a few are looking for it. Only a few really want to be that close to God. They want a true relationship with Him. They want to live for Him and with Him. The people that don't find it are missing out because it is a wonderful way to live. It is a wonderful peace and comfort in knowing that no matter what happens in life you will always have someone with you. When I think of the phase "only a few find it", I think of the missionaries, the church people like pastors, church admin., and so on but really it is whoever will serve Him where they are at. We don't need to have a fancy job, we just need to be willing to serve Him where we are at. 
           I love to paint the picture in my head of a narrow road of my life with small gates that I need to walk through when God is ready for me to change plans in my life whether it be graduating college, changing jobs, going on different mission trips, letting go of people/friends, or moving place to place. Each one is a gate on the narrow road God has placed before me. Of course, when you let go of people it is like closing a gate but then God opens a more narrow one for you to walk through maybe with another person or friend. 
           It is more about the way of our hearts, not where we are. That is why only a few find it because only a few really gets the understanding of The Way. It's not what we have or do but who we are in Christ. The path is in our hearts, not out in the world. It comes from the inside to the outside. When you see that in people, it will draw you not only to them but to God as well no matter what situation you are in. 

Challenge: Go through the small gate and on the narrow road.

Prayer: Dear Daddy, Help to to listen to You and follow you on the narrow road you have for me in life. I want to be closer to You then to this world. I want to focus on You and who You meant for me to be instead of what this world has for me. This world has so many gates but You have one gate (aka one purpose) in life for me to walk to and through, please help me to see that gate when I get to it and keep walking through the gates when it is time. 

In Christ's Love, Amen