Saturday, August 11, 2007

The Narrow Path

Matthew 7:13-14 says that we should enter by the narrow path, for broad and easy is the way that leads to destruction. Well, what is this path, and why would a loving, caring Father say something so seemingly difficult and challenging to us?

It's because of this. The answer is found in that fact that He is so loving and caring. The narrow path is this--being loved. The narrow path is allowing yourself to be loved by God.

Don't miss this. This is astonishingly important. That is why He calls it a narrow path, because it can be easy to miss.

Listen.

I'll say it again, because it's this important. The narrow path that Jesus is talking about is being loved.

The Bible says that God is love. Since this is so, God must want to love you. No, He does love you, and wants to be able to express that love to you.

I would say to everyone in the world, stop. Stop almost all of what you are doing, and be loved. You do not need to provide love for yourself. There is plenty in Him and He wants to give it to you.

Anything that is of love, is of God. Anything that is not of love, is not of God. Fear is never of God. Neither is guilt, or shame, or any of these other related things. Does He want us to stop sinning? Certainly... out of His love.

I digress. The narrow path, is to open yourself up to God and allow Him to love you.

I know this is the narrow path because I see hardly anybody walking it. Jesus said that it was way easier to walk the other path, and it's obvious to see that He was right. Most of the world is just gonna do their own thing. In pride. When they could be being loved. Beautifully, gently, tenderly, and wisely.

My advice to many people in the church is to stop what you are doing and allow yourself to be loved by him. Stop whatever you are doing, and be loved.

It's so simple, it's easy to miss. Stop all of your human constructs, fleshly constructs, born out of fear, pride, whatever, and some even in the name of God, and be loved.

Just stop, and let Him. He'll do it, I guarantee.

There is no fear in love. The narrow way is being loved. Trust Him on this.

Trust.

Be loved.

Quit walking the broad raod to destruction, and feeling smug about it. You don't have to love yourself. You don't have to live in Pride.

I quit.

Father, consider me quit. I need you to love me.




And I say to any of you young people out there, those of you hitting late teens, early twenties... save yourselves a load , a world of trouble, and let Him love you now. Please, please, please don't ignore this. THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU, ANY OF YOU, TO GO THROUGH THE YEARS AND YEARS OF STRUGGLE AND HEARTACHE THAT SO MANY OF US OLDER PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH. IT'S JUST NOT NECESSARY. Just allow yourself to be loved. Save yourself a world of pain and suffering. It's not glamorous, like the world tries to make it look. It's really a drag. And I'm saying this to you because because I care about you---Be loved. Allow yourself to be loved.

God will love you, given the chance. I guarantee it. I know Him, and I've seen this is the way he is. Trust Him. With all your heart. It's not just Bible verses to memorize. It's real, and it's life.

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