Minnesota experienced its largest snowstorm this last weekend, changing the landscape from a starting spring back into a winter wonderland. Most of my peers were disappointed that the snow came back, as though we are entitled to spring, as though we should control when the snow leaves and the flowers grow back. In their defense, it is a little disappointing to have more snow in the spring than the winter.
Nevertheless, I was excited to get outside and walk around. I love the way snow sticks on trees and washes everything white and sparkly. A snowy landscape is one of the most beautiful things to look at, as long as you know where to look.
Since school was cancelled today (a perfect Monday), I decided to go for a walk in a wood near my house. I had to walk through various developments and down multiple streets to arrive at the forest. When I finally arrived, I had to spend most of my walk forging a path through a foot of fresh snow. Walking in the woods was difficult and I thought about turning back early, but I pressed on and was rewarded with so many beautiful sights of the snowy Minnesota landscape.
My walk today reminded me of that passage in scripture about walking through the wide and narrow gate. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “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. For the gate is narrow and and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” It was easy walking down the roads that lead to the woods, but trekking through deep snow drifts took focus and hope in what I hoped to find. It takes a lot of work to plow your way through snow, and it takes even more focus to walk the narrow road of Jesus.
Jesus reemphasizes this point in Matthew 7:21-23 when he says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’“
Finding the narrow road is hard, but it is the most important thing a person can do. To reboot my blog, I have decided to post a five-part series, each blog examining how to walk the narrow path and follow Jesus. They are divided as follows:
Walking the narrow road means:
- Focusing your life around Jesus, not Jesus around your life
- Living in Life
- Dying to Your Desires
- Trusting in the Truth
- Focusing on the Fruit
No matter how you live your life, you will be damned if you walk the wide road. Please, if you have any doubts about what road you walk, do not hesitate to figure it out. Your eternal destination is far more important than anything this life holds.
So, with that in mind, let us begin.
Walking the narrow road means…
1. Focusing your life around Jesus, not Jesus around your life
I have heard a lot of sermons encouraging people to spend more time with Jesus, and I totally agree with them. Christians draw the strength of their faith by dwelling closer to God. Many of you have probably heard these phrases a few times-
- “Take five minutes with Jesus”
- “Just pray for fifteen minutes a day”
- “Try reading your Bible ten minutes each morning”
– this is all good stuff, and you should take time for Jesus. However, this mindset of “fitting Jesus into your life” is all wrong. We shouldn’t be struggling to make time for Jesus, but to make Jesus the focus of our time.
Psalm 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
By all means, read your Bible, pray, sing, do whatever connects you with God, but walking the narrow road calls for so much more. Jesus says in Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” We must live a daily sacrifice for Jesus, no matter where we are. A daily sacrifice can look like:
- Reading the Bible (Psalm 1:2)
- Praying continuously throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Keeping “unwholesome talk” out of your mouths (Ephesians 4:25)
- Maintaining a thankful heart (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- Living in joy (1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:4)
-whatever it takes to make Jesus the focus and joy of your life. Consider how often you live for yourself through social media, TV shows and movies, social gatherings, etc. Ask yourself every time you do something “How can I use this to focus on Jesus?” and act accordingly. If you can’t find a way to use that activity for God’s kingdom, then maybe you need to cut it out of your time.
To walk the narrow road is to live a life of Jesus, not of yourself.
This is blog 1 of 5 in a series titled “Walking the Narrow Road”. Subscribe if you would like to receive updates, and please come back anytime. God bless you and keep you safe <3
~CLS
