Matthew 7:13-14
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
In our last passage, Jesus gave us the most basic instruction for relationships among citizens of God’s Kingdom. Today we consider why that simple command is so difficult to live out. Read Matthew 7:7-14 taking note of anything that stands out.
In a good world gone wrong it sometimes seems it would be easier to drift along on the currents of culture than to forge a path of shalom. But Jesus tells us that if we aren’t purposeful about choosing the way of life, we will find ourselves living a kind of death.
The word translated “hell” in today’s passage is more literally translated as “destruction.” The Greek word doesn’t indicate total annihilation but rather a hopeless separation from what could or should have been. The word “hell” is a graphic and appropriate description of the loss suffered by those who choose the path of least resistance. The highway to hell is a route to disappointment of the worst kind.
Stop to contemplate your own journey. Are you taking time daily to allow Jesus to transform the way you think and act? Try to imagine your effort, or lack thereof, as canoe trip down a river. Are you drifting along in the current, or are you doing something else? Are you aware of Jesus’ presence in the canoe with you, and to what extent are you relying on him to row and steer? Speak to Jesus about this.
Read Matthew 7:13-14 again with this image in mind.
Choosing the “gateway to life” involves developing good spiritual rhythms that keep us aware of Jesus’ presence and Jesus’ voice, and good spiritual rhythms require a degree of effort on our part. But spiritual rhythms and practices in and of themselves are pointless if we are using them as self-help tools. The difficulty in choosing the “gateway to life” is that it involves surrender.
Surrender is a moment by moment, day by day process. Our small part in the process is showing up regularly to be with Jesus through our engagement with Scripture, prayer and other spiritual practices and then acting on whatever Jesus is saying to us. Jesus’ part is supplying the power that transforms us into the people God intends us to be.
Take a moment to contemplate the concept of surrender. Walk through a typical day in your mind and imagine what it would look like for you to surrender moment by moment to Jesus.
Now get quiet and allow all the thoughts and feelings from this time of meditation to settle. Just listen to Jesus.
Do you sense Jesus inviting you to establish any new or different healthy spiritual rhythms?
If so, how will you begin to take action today and tomorrow?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
