Luke 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from.' And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intetion for those who are affected by the earthquake in Pakistan.
For as much as I love this beautiful faith we have in Christ, I find it's easy to lose sight of it. I can see the path that leads to the narrow gate. Yet, as I look around, if I stray off of the path just a little I may be able to pick a flower or I may find a rare stone. Soon thereafter, I'm more consumed picking the flower or reaching for the stone so much so that I have lost sight of the narrow gate. After all, if I find enough things, there's no way I can enter through the narrow gate.
As I look at the path that Christ took, the road wasn't littered with pretty things. It was a hard road to walk. On his walk, He took with Him a tunic, a crown of thorns, and a cross.
Sometimes I get so consumed with the things that I need to have in order to travel properly that I forget that Jesus calls us to take nothing for the journey. If I pick up too many things, I can't enter through the narrow gate
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Lord, I desire to enter through the narrow gate, but I have often been misled. I have fallen away from the path many times trying to pursue things I think would make me happy. I have fallen away from the path many times trying to do good for others in my name and not Yours.
In recognizing my faults, Lord, I pray for the gifts of faith, hope and charity to keep me focused on the promise of heaven beyond the narrow gate.
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Take care and God Bless.
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