Last Friday night I sat in a small, elegant prayer room, Open Door House of Prayer, in Ft. Pierce listening, tapping notes on my iPad, as a man shared about Jesus, about the things the Lord was speaking to and showing him.
I was filled with awe, stirred to know and love Him more. As the man spoke, scripture opened up in my own heart. (Note: Always a good sign the man speaking is not about himself but the God-Man, Jesus.)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14, New International Version, ©2011)
We quote this verse in the church as a salvation passage. Those who are saved are on the narrow path, and those who are not are on the road to destruction.
And that is true. Right. Jesus is the only way to salvation.
But yet, Jesus also said many are called but few are chosen. As I sat in the prayer room Friday night the reverent fear of the Lord began to stir my heart. The world is trying to make salvation wider, easier. The church is going along with eager enthusiasm. “Like us, like us! Sure, we’ll agree Jesus isn’t the only way.”
Danger! It’s the exact opposite. We need not be finding a way to widen the road to heaven, but opening our eyes to realize how very narrow it is!
We must go THROUGH Jesus. Not around Him. Not in front or behind him. But through Him which means we are completely lost in Him.
Rachel Hauck, You (insert name here) must be lost in Him. Not found any other way than IN Him. Meaning, who is Rachel Hauck? Only who He says I am and I don’t care about finding myself or being defined any other way.
Jesus loves humility. The Father loves Jesus and He is the only one in whom the Father is well pleased! Does Love Win?
Yes. In fact, Love already won. At the Cross. End of sentence. Some things in God are defined, exact and we can know! This idea that God is so awesome, wise and infinite we can’t understand Him is of the world.
We can know Him. How do I know? He sent His Son, THEN gave us the Holy Spirit. If you’re not knowing Him, maybe you need to ask the Holy Spirit to invade your world.
Jesus is the one whom the Father wants to glorify and magnify. And nothing, nothing will get in the way of His will — to glorify His son.
Not our fame, or well being, or will, or desires, or right to pursue happiness will distract the Father from making His Son’s name known in all the earth. Nothing! The Father WILL glorify His Son to the Nations!
Only God can reveal God.
We are called to be like Jesus. You know what He did? “Made Himself of no reputation.”
And what do I see in people, in me? Wanting to be of a reputation. Seeking to expand, broaden, redeem, polish, hone, care for and coddle MY reputation.
But Jesus is longing for HIS nature to be formed in me. In you.
See? The road is narrow!
Jesus is to be the center of everything. God is not going to allow His Son’s name to go on much longer as a powerless name.
Christianity has to be about a person, the Man Christ Jesus, not about performance, or oy! doctrine or theology.
We focus more on our doctrine than scripture. We give more credence to theology than Jesus.
We are so busy trying to “get out of here,” and we’re missing that He, Jesus, is trying to get into us and create perfect vessels!
John the Baptist said this, “He must increase so I can decrease!”
We have to let Him increase in us so we can decrease, so He can be formed in us.
Every day we live and breathe is precious to the Lord! Oh, how that makes my heart sing. We are here for a purpose. He is incredibly intentional!
In Christ is hidden all the wisdom and revelation. The New Testament is a revelation of the purpose of Jesus the Christ.
We must know the Word. We can’t rely on the doctrine’s and traditions of men. Not John Calvin. Not Rob Bell.
The road is narrow. To pass through we must let Christ be formed in us. We must ask Jesus to increase.
How can you tell if you’re choosing yourself or Him? What’s the focus of your want, belief, goal, or desire? If it’s not Jesus, pure and simple, it’s about you.
Same with me. Daily I have to lay down my wants. Yet, oh, how extravagant His love, His will, His desires for me. For all of those who love Him.
Love HIM! He’ll do the rest. And His best is beyond our wildest imaginations.
Comments 3
AMEN!!!
Ah, the battle of our times — the battle for truth. Some Christians get offended if they are called narrow-minded. Me? I love it! Means I’m on the right path. Truth is rare, priceless and forever, amen! So, falseness, is everywhere, cheap and ever-changing. The core of the true Christ follower is what we believe about Jesus and who He says He is. Praise the Lord, sister, for having the love and compassion of the Father to tell people the truth about truth. Thank you!
Oh so true!