W1D3 Two Ways

READ THE BIBLE

Matthew 7:13

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

For further reading:

Luke 13 v 22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’”

REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS

One day, a school pupil wanted some help with a practical project. The teacher was busy helping someone else, so he asked the classroom assistant “Which way shall I do this?” The classroom assistant replied, “Well, there’s a right way, a wrong way and my way!” That answer was not at all helpful to the poor, confused pupil, but it tells us something about people. People try and invent a 3rd way for themselves that avoids facing the real question and the real choices. People do this a lot, especially when it comes to thinking about God. They say things like, “Well, I don’t know,” or, “I believe some of it," or, “I’m somewhere in between,” or, “I’ll think about it one day.”

In the verses we just read, Jesus himself only gives us two ways, two options, two ways to go in life. There is no 3rd way or middle track, even though many people might want to believe that there is! He calls these two ways in life the “Narrow Way” and the “Broad Way.” One is seemingly easier to live by, and one harder; one more popular and one less popular, and they both end up in very different places. The harder, less popular Narrow Way leads to “life;” real life, the fullest, best, most satisfying life a person can have. It is spiritual life inside you, and a life filled with blessing and purpose, with joy, peace, love, and God himself. The easier way to live, the popular Broad Way, promises much but delivers none of it. It ends up where we read on the first day, in destruction or death.

Which of the two ways are we on in life? You’ll notice Jesus doesn’t say, “Enter by the Broad Gate.” He doesn’t need to as we are all already, automatically on it from the start of our lives. Unless we make a deliberate choice to “enter through the narrow gate,” we will stay on the Broad Way by default. How do we get on this other way? By making a life-changing, lifetime choice—to follow Jesus and live life his way and not our way. Until we make that choice we are on the Broad Way and—like it or not—we are headed to where that road is going: destruction. Whatever you think that might mean, one thing is clear, it’s not very nice and you really don’t want to go there! Ask yourself honestly: “Which road do I want to be on and which road am I really on right now?”, “Have I made that all-important choice to “enter by the narrow gate?”

RELATE IT TO YOUR LIFE

Imagine your life completely and totally on Jesus’ Narrow Way. What would it look like? Think of at least one big and one small thing that would have to change and what the “cost” to you would be. How do you feel about making these changes and paying the cost?

RESPOND WITH A DECLARATION

“God, I believe that my life can change and will change when I enter the Narrow Gate.”