Seek to Find
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:14
The strait gate and the narrow way that leads us into life in Jesus, in His own words, is found by few. To find a thing implies that there was effort spent in seeking it. Jesus exhorted us to seek that we may find, to ask that we may receive, and to knock so that the door may open for us to enter into His abundance.
Today, much of the preaching appeals to the broad and easy way, which leads to destruction. There is very little preaching concerning the “pursuit of God” and finding His purpose for our lives. A gospel which is not costly is a gospel which cannot transform us. The only Life that is offered to us is the resurrected life of Jesus, a life which rises out of our own death to self.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy
that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”
Matthew 7:13 (ESV)
Can we not feel the pressing of His Spirit to “enter” through the straight gate? It is the “narrow way” that leads us into the richness of His eternal life-giving wonder. The Greek parsing of Matthew 7:14 expresses a continuous life of choosing the “narrow way” followed by a continual growth into His life.
“For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way
that leads away into life, and few are the ones finding it.”
Matthew 7:14 (LITV)
The way of the cross is not an event. It is a way, a continuous series of deliberate choices. There is no respite, no cessation of the ever-narrowing way to those who have found the joy of discovering the incomprehensible unfolding of His life. It is the secret to living the “now life” rather than the mythical and deceptive dream of something future.
The strait gate speaks of a narrowness of entry; a way that confines the unruly and rebellious heart of the natural man. No wonder it is not a popular message! It is hard to fill our pews by preaching the narrow way. It is hard to promote our programs and agendas when we speak of dying to self, picking up our cross, and becoming a disciple of Christ. It is worth noting the context of these two scriptures (Matthew 7:13-14) for Jesus goes on to say:
“Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Matthew 7:15
It is the false prophets, false teachers, and ministers who would present anything other than the strait gate and the narrow way. The disciple of Christ chooses a despised and rigorous way. The way of the cross is the only way into the authentic Life of Christ. The broad way of religion will speak of His life; it will preach about the life of Jesus, but denies the means by which His life becomes ours.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Romans 1:18 (ESV)
There is a ministry in the earth that “suppresses” the truth in unrighteousness. Its aim is selfish and sinful. Ministers who preach a gospel to please the people in order to be seen of men and to hold their position will in the end suffer the “wrath of God.”
“Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life],
and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account
will find it [the higher life].”
Matthew 10:39 (AMPC)
They who seek the narrow way will find it, and they who enter through the strait gate have begun the journey into His fullness.
May we heed the invitation of Jesus to “Enter in…”. It is the heart and call of God to those who have ears to hear.
The cross of Christ is the only hope for every individual; it is the only hope for families, the only recourse for a compromised church and the only message offered to the world.
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 (CSB)
Related Post: The Rugged Way
Vision given to Tony Puccio – The Road You Choose – Worth Reading
“It is they who glorify, who shall enjoy Him; they who deny themselves, who shall not be denied; they who labor on earth, who shall rest in heaven; they who bear the cross, who shall wear the crown; they who seek to bless others, who shall be blessed.”
— Thomas Guthrie
Brian Troxel
The Road You Choose
Mat 7:13-14
The Narrow Way
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.
(NKJVS)
As I was awakening the morning of 03/09/2015, the Lord dropped the following word into my spirit. The narrow road is a hard road full of obstacles to hinder your journey. The narrow road has a specific destination it leads to as does the wide road. One, the narrow road, is the only one that ultimately leads to eternal life. As I am writing this I see 2 visions one of a man standing before the 2 roads deciding on which one to take. In the second vision I saw the 2 roads and the narrow road was more of a foot path. It was so narrow that the only way to walk on it was one foot in front of another like you would see a circus performer walking along a tight rope. The narrow road is not an easy road because, as I said above it is full of obstacles to block your way, discourage you, and ultimately get you to leave that path and start down the broad road. David said that the Word of God was a lamp for his feet and a light unto his path. He was speaking of natural darkness here and the lamp that he would have used was on a chain and it was held near the feet. I had a dream several years ago that I am reminded of as I write this post. In this dream my eyes were bandaged so obviously I could not see where I was going. The road upon which I was traveling was full of rocks, some very jagged. Then I saw that Jesus, the living word, had both of my hands and His eyes were on my feet. He was walking backwards as I walked forwards. I had to listen to His every word in order to keep from falling and injuring myself. Jesus was concerned about my feet on the path.
Jud 1:24
Glory to God
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,(NKJVS)
God’s word is truth. Lies are told but truth must be sought out diligently and it’s only found on the narrow path. We get to choose the road be it straight and narrow or broad. We don’t ,however, get to choose its final destination
So good and so timely…please send the link and I will add it on here.
Blessings
BT
https://tpuccio.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/the-road-you-choose/
No good, but by God am I. To the One Three Person God be all the glory for all the mercy and for all the grace, to faithfully, although very imperfectly, follow Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, cherishingly saving me from myself and the powers of darkness, destruction, and death.
We love Him because He first loved us. He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Christ Jesus, Himself, is our exceeding, eternal, great Reward, with citizenship and ceaseless communion in the celestial city, courtyards, and countryside, our everlasting, heavenly inheritance.
The Lamb of love, the Lord of liberty, the Lord of history, including yours and mine, is our exultation and exaltation forevermore, in, of, and by Whom alone we have holiness to righteously revel and richly rejoice, in any ardency or all actuality, for He is infinitely more good and glorious than the grand sum of all His creation that is, and was, and ever shall be.
1 John 4:19 AMP
We love, because [b]He first loved us.
b. 1 John 4:19 Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
Romans 8:28-30 AMP
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].
Romans 15:13 AMP
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.