Tag: narrow gate

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Day 6 All of My Days

krisshetter 
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10

According to a University of California Irvine study, it takes an average of 23 minutes after having been distracted to get back to the task at hand.  Now imagine if that “task at hand” was to stay on the narrow path laid out by Jesus in His famous Sermon on the Mount – “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.”  Keeping our mind and body focused on the goodness and mercy of God.  On how much He loves us.  And responding to Him throughout our day in obedience and gratefulness.  

There’s never a moment, not ever, that the Lord of all creation has forgotten you.  He knows every single thing about you.  He has plans and blessings for you; not just for your earthly days but for all eternity.  

How often do we, however, forget about God?  We aren’t desperate for Him.  We don’t think to ask Him to help us.  Worse yet, we don’t think He will help us.  We get distracted by all the flashing billboards along that narrow path luring us to take the off ramps and spend a little time (or a lot) seeking pleasure or life that fits in so nicely with the rest of the world.  Every off ramp leading us further away from His loving arms.

Each time a friend, a pastor, a word here or there, or the Holy Spirit nudges us back to the path you have to wonder, how much time did we waste that could’ve been spent doing His will.  Serving someone He wanted us to bless?  Or even strengthening us for future trials?  

23 minutes each time we are distracted.  Add up all those times we chose not to go to church, not read our Bibles, not go to Bible study, not choose the narrow path.  I know for me that adds up to a lot of days.  Thank goodness for His free flowing mercy!  

I spent a lot of years being distracted by the world.  But I am forgiven.  I’ve joined up with the narrow path.  We need to keep our face lifted to the God who loves us all of the rest of our days.  Won’t you join me?

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My Body Is Yours, Lord

krisshetter 
"Therefore, I give glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." Romans 15:17

“Heavenly Father, as I begin this workout help me have the strength and fortitude to complete it so that I may be strong in order to serve you with all my heart, mind, and body.  And in that service my body gives glory to you for all that you have given me.  Amen”

One of the many lessons I’ve gleaned through studying the Bible is that Jesus wants all of us – our entire body, mind and heart.  He’s not a halfway kind of guy.  You’re either on the path and maybe struggling to stay on it or you are wandering off into the forest.  There’s no one foot on and one off.  Because when we get to the narrow gate you’ve got to have both feet firmly planted to walk through it.  This includes taking care of the body God gave us.  

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore,  honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Put in context this Bible verse is referring to sexually immoral acts.  However, it can also simply remind us that our bodies are God-given.  And like all God’s gifts He wants us to use it as good stewards.  Why? To put our gift into service for the children of God to glorify Him.  

One day, after beating myself up about my weight, my aging face, my bad hair I stood in front of the mirror and had an epiphany.  I am a child of God.  My body belongs to Him. And my complaining and lack of caretaking of my body was rude.  Yes, rude and disrespectful to God.  I needed to instead think of ways to care for this gift and glorify Him with it.

Whatever state our bodies are in, be it fit, or old, not quite fully functioning, or basically in working order, we need to take care of it so that when called upon by the Holy Spirit we are ready for action.  Even if you are in a wheelchair, your arms can be strong to hug a person or maybe just hold a hand.  If you are struck with a disease affecting you physically God still wants you in His holy service.

So friends, break out your sneakers, snap on your headband, pick up those weights and getting moving.  Get strong.  Get ready.  Your neighbor, your friend, a stranger, a family member may need you today to lend a hand.  And when you step forward to help remember to thank God for this gift and glorify Him!