Verse of the Day 11/8

Through the Bible - Jeremiah 51- Lamentations 2, Hebrews 7:11-28

 

Good morning,

Pastor Bob's message this weekend focused on the principle that "Direction Determines Destination".  There are many choices to make about what path or paths we will take in life.  This week, Lord willing, we'll take a look at the path and the walk along the path of a Christian will look like.

 

I'm an old rock'n roll fan, and some of the lyrics from "Led Zeppelin's" "Stairway to Heaven" came to mind.

 

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

 

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

Where will your current path lead you?  As the songwriter says, if it is in the wrong direction "there's still time to change the road you're on".  However, your path should not be determined by the whispering wind.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the gospel of Matthew where Jesus tells us about the path. the way and the gate that we are to follow.

Matthew 7:13-14 (Amplified Bible) Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

The Amplified Bible says that the gate is narrow because it is contracted by pressure.  What are today's pressures, wealth, financial security, status or pleasures?  Then as now, society promotes a highway that leads to destruction.  The "freedoms" that are pursued often lead to addictions, heartache and heart break.  God's way may seem narrow and compressed but it leads to life, peace and joy to those who follow Christ along it.

 

Read the verses again, this time from The Message.  How does it speak to you about where you are along the road.

 

Matthew 7:13-14 (The Message)  "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

Ephesians 5:15 (Amplified Bible)  Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Matthew 7:13-20 (New King James Version)

¹³ "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

   
¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.