A short reading and prayers for today
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
Matthew 7:13 NLT
I am always fascinated to hear people tell me the story of their lives. Although their life journeys are all completely different, they have something in common, and that is the importance of decisionmaking. They shape our lives to a huge extent and so it is vital that we make good and wise decisions. Here Jesus encourages his followers to enter into the Kingdom of God and he emphasises that the gate is narrow. It will only be entered by people who are deliberate in their choice and willing to face its demands. It is the gate that leads to life and fulfilment, but it would be very easy to miss it, because the much easier path is the one which leads to destruction. These are sobering words and we need to listen carefully to them.
In the Old Testament we meet a number of decisive moments. At the end of his life, Moses challenged the people of Israel just before they were to enter the Promised Land. He had led them through those desperately demanding years wandering through the desert. They had experienced God’s provision and guidance, but this didn’t mean that they were going to automatically follow God. Far from it. They had a decision to make. In Deuteronomy 30.15-16 he said this, “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God, to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.” They had a real choice, and they could also choose to turn their hearts away from God and worship other gods, but Moses promised that the outcome would be certain destruction.
We live in very different times but the decision we need to make is the same. We need to choose between life and death. Are we willing to serve the Lord and walk through the narrow gate?
QUESTION
Are you willing to live in God’s Kingdom, however tough it might be?
PRAYERS
God our Father, thank you that you invite us to enter into your Kingdom of love and peace. Amen
Go before us, Lord, in all our doings, with your most gracious favour,
and further us with your continual help;
that in all our works begun, continued and ended in you,
we may glorify your holy name,
and finally by your mercy attain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
We humbly pray that your Holy Spirit may so guide and govern us
that in all the cares and occupations of our daily life,
we may never forget your presence
but may remember that we are always walking in your sight,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.