SCRIPTURE: Luke 13:22-27
If God wants all people saved (1 Timothy 2:4), why are many not saved?
The answer is here: “Away from me, all you evil-doers!” (Luke 13:27)
It is not because God didn’t want them, or that they were not chosen.
It is because they lived their whole life fighting God and hurting others.
In the context it is likely religious hypocrites that Jesus has in mind here.
People who did not care about God or others, but only themselves.
They are religious opportunists, doing whatever suits them best.
But what is the narrow door?
It is not just verbal faith – saying yes with your mouth to a creed or belief.
It is saying yes with your heart, your life, and joining with Jesus in the kingdom life.
It is joining with Jesus on the front lines, sharing in His kingdom calling, living out His compassion, kindness, mercy and love, seeking and saving the lost.
For many Christians, ‘being a Christian’ consists of ‘eating and drinking with Him and listening to Him teach’ (i.e. going to church, taking communion)… but NOT doing what He says!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
To be saved is not just to escape hell, it is to be saved from a selfish, fruitless, heartless life, and brought into a God-like, Jesus-like, God-and-neighbour-loving life.
This takes effort (make every effort), but thankfully not effort we have to produce on our own; God will help us if we want it… but that is the key, do we want it, will we strive for it, will we seek God’s help for it?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, Your teaching is hard, but it is what You saved me for. And Your Spirit will help me, if I want. Help me not to be a listener, help me to strive to be a good-doer with You, like You, for You, in You!
Observation/Application
Do this and live . That’s what the Master said. Live and do this!
Just following or bing in His presence will not do it. Just going to the meetings or attending an association does not make one a member. To join the ranks requires active involvement. It will involve active participation which requires effort, struggles, sweat, tears, etc. It requires effort.
Being a Christian is not automatic but requires decisions that need follow through. Action. Involvement. Love. Doing.
Remember the bridesmaids? The prepared and the unprepared?
To know Jesus is to love Jesus. To love Jesus is to do Jesus through word and deed. Loving = knowing = doing. These three must always go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
And so this day, may we/I once again be a channel of His peace.
1. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Refrain
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
2. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
3. We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.
4. All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.