Matthew 7 - towards the end

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them. 21 "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. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

So there is a right way and a wrong way, verse 13 & 14 describe these alternate routes as the broad and narrow roads. It seems pretty simple, choose the narrow road for it leads to life, things are surely never that simple though. It's difficult and that must be why Jesus tells us that there are few who actually find it.

I don't feel like I want to pray that God helps me to find the more difficult path to walk along, but that seems to be what I should be doing. Its difficult to comprehend with our own human reasoning how this could bring any proper joy and happiness, but through the grace and love of God it will. I pray God will help me to understand that.

Verses 15-20 - 'It is not merely the wicked, the bearer of poison berries, that will be cut down; but the neutral, the man who bears no fruit of positive virtue must also be cast into the fire.' (Spurgeon)

Verse 21, its such a massive verse, the difference between your lips and your lifestyle. I pray that God will help me to honour him in every aspect of my life.

There is so much more in these verses than I can do justice. I pray you can write them on your heart and truly understand them.