Devotion

Tighten Up!
(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) “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.”

When our relationship with Jesus Christ is such that He is our constant Companion in words, thoughts, and deeds – we can really appreciate the lesson in today’s scripture. Do you know that over 7.8 billion people have occupancy in the earth, and we all belong to God? With there being so many of us for God to keep His eyes on - surely there are a few slips, shortcuts, and sins that we can get by with What we consider to be minor sins surely won’t amount to anything significant to God, right? This is the type of thinking we have when we are walking through the wide gate. The god who reigns in the earth won’t trouble us about our dirt, because he doesn’t care about us. He’s working to steal us away from God. But when we tighten up the stance we take in our conviction to serve God, even a crumb-size sin matters to us, because we know our God is perfect, and under His rule – He is perfecting us for His Kingdom. If our relationship with Jesus is right, then we’re aiming to walk through that narrow gate! But if we’re deciding for ourselves what’s acceptable to God, we need to tighten up and get off that broad road that leads straight to hell. I’m speaking real truth!
Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit within me Who impresses upon me when I am doing wrong. I desire to do your will in all things so that I may be prepared to live in God’s Kingdom. Amen.