The Narrow Wide Road…
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a]that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
While thinking on this verse in Matthew, read back in Psalms the following:
Psalm 119:41-48
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
We have all heard the gates to heaven are “narrow” and those who find it are few… But consider the Psalmist statement in verse 45, “and i shall walk in a WIDE place…”
For although the believer must find and walk the “narrow” path to receive Jesus, salvation, and eternal glory with Christ, once they do so, the ROAD IS WIDE.
Another way to look at a wide road is “having some elbow room.” Having some space to move around from side to side, to stretch out your legs as if in a first class airplane set, to look to the left and to the right and realize there are some options around you!!
Does this seem like the faith you are used to? Does that seem like the FREEDOM the Lord gives to those in Christ?
I think often we have grown up with so many rules and fears of moral uprightness that we may have missed this “opening up of the avenues” once we passed through the narrow gate? You know what I’m saying? How many prayers have we said like this… “Lord, just help me through this one thing and I swear i’ll start trying harder, working smarter, being honest…” ( you can fill in the deal maker )
It’s not that way at all in Christ.. in fact, the plans the Lord lays out for us are quite “un-dealable”… quite “unreal” and quite “amazing” and ALWAYS about walking on a WIDE ROAD… I mean, “i will speak of your testimonies before kings, and SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.. ” Come on already, let’s get with it right?
How about it? Can you see yourself allowing God to do a little more AMAZING in your life and a little less “if only i could?” Have you asked Him? Have we listened to His TRUE intentions for us?
I got to tell you this verse fires me up…. He fires me up enough anyhow but i’m talking hair on fire excitement about walking on a wide road!!! Can you feel the need for yourself to let go of some of these hang ups and hesitations that have kept you tip-toeing across the “straight and narrow?”
Yes the gate is narrow friend, but as you pass through it you’ve GOT TO BE READY for the WIDE PLACE…. the HIGH PLACE…. the glory over glory over grace over grace place…
He’s got your best interest in mind for every step… we just got to get moving man.
Barnabas Man 