Today, I’m joining Lisa-Jo Baker for the first time in the 5 Minute Friday community. Excited for my first go at it :)
—
WIDE
Just last week, I sat in a service, hungry to hear, to learn, to grow.
The preacher opened up to Matthew, and referenced Jesus’ words:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
And the preacher, he talked about this narrow road, the one only a few find.
And we all think that only a few find it because it’s hidden by the One who first paved it. That it’s been covered up in bushes and thorns and thick shrubbery by a God who doesn’t want us to get in.
But the preacher tells us, this simply isn’t true, that we believe the narrow way is covered up by a God who wants it to be a big secret.
Because just a few verses before his words about the wide gate and the broad road and the small gate and narrow road, our Jesus tells us that everyone who seeks will find. Everyone who knocks will be met with an open door. An open gate.
Everyone.
So it’s not that the narrow way is hidden on purpose.
It’s that the broad road, that wide gate, it’s so much easier to walk that way.
We are too…. lazy, stubborn, selfish, sinful, perhaps, to seek with unrestrained hearts the God who says He will always be found by us.
… [stop]
with Grace,
Lauren
also sharing here: Still Saturday, Freshly Brewed Life
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So love that you joined us today friend! And oh how thankful I am that He flung the gate wide open for me and you and all who follow Him. Such a wonderful lesson you shared with your words today. Blessings!
So glad you linked up with Five Minute Friday. I love the lessons that Jesus taught us and truly the simplicity of the wide gate. Our loving Father doesn’t hide it from us, just like you said. He loves us too much.
I haven’t been able to link up for a few weeks and I’m so glad to be linking again! God bless!
One of my very favourite verses. You write with a flow and peace that is captivating. :)
Thank you Juanita… what a blessing to me today :)
This is FANTASTIC Lauren! It was my first go at it to, and I was touched by God, but not as literally as you were. Such amazing imagery. And so vivid to think about how the “narrow” gate isn’t hidden behind the blackberry bushes – it’s just as open, but maybe we have to hold on to God’s hand to get through some of it – and on the wide path, well, we don’t get to lean on Him because we lean on ourselves. Thank you for sharing. And for showing us your beautiful bible. Love it! In a time of smart phones, I’m glad people still write in their bibles!
Jen: So very nice to have you visit. I LOVE that— that on the wide path, “we don’t get to lean on Him because we lean on ourselves” beautiful picture. I’m excited to hope over and visit your place, now :)
Lovely words:) And your Bible? Your kids will treasure it someday. What a wonderful gift you’ll be passing on to them.
Kimberly: so sweet to think of how my little ones will treasure my Bible one day. I’ve read that idea on the “We are that family” blog, to give each child a bible that you have written in. Thank you for visiting :)
i’ve read many posts today that have focused on the expansiveness of God’s love. i appreciated how you looked at that broad road that tempts to many to walk it, not because God hides the other, but because man tends to follow the crowd… go with the flow… choose his own way instead of the prescribed way.
course, that just emphasizes how very wide the love of God is… even those who refuse to take His path, He loves them with an everlasting love…
so glad i visited your corner of the blog world this friday!
Beautiful!
Andrea, thank you for stopping by!
So very true.
So very, very true. Thank you for that reminder.
Thank you I needed to find this today. Sometimes a body just needs a little reminding.
I need the reminder myself, Summer! thank you for joining the conversation
A truth very nicely described!
Thanks Wendy!
Lovely reminder that it really is a wide, open gate. Great post.
Thanks Courtney. Nice to meet you :) Headed over your way now!
Powerful post!!!
Thank you for sharing…