The Narrow Door, His Blood, His Righteousness

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail." Luke 13:24

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

According to Matthew's account the narrow way was contrasted with a broad rode leading to destruction, which is considered relatively easy to get and stay on. Contrarily, effort needs to be expended to get on the narrow road, which leads to heaven. Our own pride, Satan, and the world make it a difficult task, but as Paul said in Acts, God sets things up so that people could find this way.

The key, I believe, is to accept the narrow way because it is God's way, the one He provides. One might say that the broad road is a combination of humanity's way to do it their way. Good works, memberships, achievements, all human activity may be commendable, but one must come to God on His terms. To invent a religion or formula, and being tolerant in views of what God wants from us, are only our version of what God wants -- they don't count.

People seek to make a connection with God, pitifully, using man-made materials. They "sew" a fabric, often large and eye catching, but it is a weak fabric which tears loose and doesn't connect us to God, no matter how impressive it looks. However, while acceptance through Christ is a small connecting thread, it is exceedingly strong. And we go through life that way, with a life dependent on a thread that is small but the only one that holds.

As the hymn implies, our hope is built on not only nothing less, but also nothing more, than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

beanscot's husband

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less - Deborah Liv Johnson

Out of the Mud Onto the Rock

Psalm 40:1-3New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 40[a]

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

    he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

    out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

    and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

    a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord

    and put their trust in him.

Isaiah 61:10New International Version (NIV)

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I pray that we who have left the miry clay for the solid rock will stay put.  To my shame I know that I can return to wallow in the mud, until my gracious Jesus once again lifts me out and washes me off.  Pigs wallow in the mud for a reason, regulating their body temperature and add a protective coat to their bodies.  We children of God are not pigs.   We are royalty in the Kingdom of our Lord.  May the only reason we have to visit the pit is to help others out of it.  

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less - Deborah Liv Johnson