Matthew; 7:13-14
(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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.)
I have been reading 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. It speaks of the Christians travels as he makes his way to the Celestial City. It talks about the different trials he encounters on his way. Some of these trials were family, vanity, despair, flatterers, doubt, and little faith. I'm sure that all of us have dealt with some of these if not all of these on our Christian journey. If we stray off of the narrow way, we can be putting our self into harms way.
Jesus tells us that we will experience difficulty if we choose to follow Him. You will be ridiculed for your belief and possibly persecuted. It probably won't cost you your life, but it isn't going to be easy.
John; 15:20
(Remember the word I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.)
Jesus was speaking to His disciples here, but it can also apply to us today. If we choose to follow Jesus and obey Him, then we can expect trials and tribulation. They may be physical or they may be spiritual, but they will come.
Our goal as a child of God is to worship Him and obey Him. He has given all of us as His children the mission of spreading the truth and being a witness to the lost. If we let our light shine in this dark world, they will see it. If we allow our self to be entangled by all of the cares of the world, we won't be able to carry out this mission. Satan knows where to put the stumbling blocks. He will cause you to doubt your own salvation at times. He will put your pride in front of you. He will put anything in front of you that will cause you to detour off the straight and narrow path.
We need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. If we do, then it is much harder to be caught off guard. We need to expect these trials and remember that He who is in us is stronger than he who is in the world. Jesus has already won the war and He is our Rock and our Salvation. We live in a dark world but Jesus is the light of life. Walk in the light!!
John; 8:12
(Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.)"
You want to stay on the narrow path and not stumble? Stay on the lighted path.
God Bless You!
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