The previous verses to this passage above speak towards living in the Spirit of God verses continuing to live in the flesh that we have been freed from once we put our faith in Jesus Christ. We have a new identity, a new man (or woman) where we have access to God as the Holy Spirit now lives in us. However, living out our new identity will come with certain sufferings. We have to resist certain habits and tendencies that we used to carelessly enjoy in our flesh that we can longer enjoy being in the Spirit. Putting off these things do come at a cost and sometimes that cost is so great that it feels like suffering.
But Paul encourages us in our fight to remain living in the Spirit of God that any suffering we face for Jesus now, will seem to be of little significance when we finally get to be with Jesus face to face. Meaning, everything we do today that costs us now, will be oh so ever worth it later.
You never lose doing it Jesus’ way, no matter how much your flesh groans the opposite.
Pastor Jason Witt
Jesus says in Matthew 7:13 that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. At the time you are on this wide path, it seems like you are going the right direction. You see everyone going the same way. Everyone seems to agree on the same things. It seems right, yet the end of the road here is death. Jesus in the next verse says, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life.
The warning is to pay attention to the road you are on. When I get on the freeway to head to San Francisco, I need to pay attention to where I am going. If for some reason the signs say San Diego, you can be assured that I will not make it to my destination. If it seems right and feels right, I’d caution you that it’s probably a good idea to check where that path leads to.
Join me on that narrow and difficult path which leads to life.
Joshua Navarro
Prior to this verse, Jesus had fed over 5,000 hungry people who had traveled to see Him. The Lord’s compassion for the crowd moved Him to multiply one boy’s lunch, miraculously feeding everyone in attendance with leftovers to go. Jesus demonstrated His capability to meet the needs of those who would seek Him using a physical example, but He wanted them to understand that He could feed a person’s soul with heavenly nourishment forevermore.
Many did follow Jesus to His next destination, but for some, it was the earthly bread that they were after. The Lord has so much more to offer than bodily sustenance. For the believer who desires to feast on His word, digest His precepts, and be filled with His Spirit, the hunger and thirst of the soul will never lack fulfillment. Today, may we long to be richly fed with the love and righteousness that only Jesus Christ can provide. Bon Appétit!
Jeff Deal
There is great power in your story and people need to hear it. Many times, we think that there are issues that we need to work through before the Lord can use us and our testimony. But the truth is you will always be working through issues and if you are waiting to be perfect, have the Bible memorized, or have a testimony that rivals others, you will be with Jesus before you ever share your story and that would be a shame.
The power of your testimony is in God and the lengths He went to make you right with Him. Your testimony is your walk with Jesus now, that’s why it’s so precious. People don’t see who you were, but they do see who you are now in Christ.
How many can be reached through the hearing of your testimony? I don’t know and neither will you unless you step out and share it. Why don’t you tell someone what Jesus has done for you and find out?
Pastor Doug Hardin
Don’t you love the promises of God? There are people in this world who will turn their backs on you and disappear the moment things get difficult. God is the exact opposite; when things get difficult, hard, or even downright ugly, God draws near and says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest for your soul.” That’s the beauty of the gospel, our worst for God’s best!
This year has been extremely difficult; people are hurting financially and are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. In the midst of it all, God gives an invitation to come to Him and exchange it all for rest. Today, if you are weighed down by the worries of this world, go to the Lord and trade your stress for rest!
For the King,
Pastor Daniel Batistelli
Have you ever forgotten how faithful God is? I don’t mean you don’t know He is faithful, but with our attitudes, complaining, and countenance, we have a lapse in memory. I know for me, I seem to forget God’s faithfulness when I think something should be done in my way, not remembering that God is faithful to do many things His way, according to His will. God will do what He has promised you. It may not be how you imagined it or within the timing you thought, but He will do it.
Resting in Him,
Pastor Sean Boehm
When Jesus is the center of your home there is no better reward than to see your children move into their own independent and personal walk with the Lord. But then when they have children and you see your grandkids loving Jesus, that is glorious. As grandparents, we should never neglect the opportunity and responsibility we have to pour into the lives of that next generation. And as the Proverb says, we can also teach our little one to love and respect their parents because that is how a godly home works.
From this generation to the next,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
As Christians, we need to regularly gauge our spiritual walk and this verse helps to do so. Do you question if you really know Jesus? Ask yourself, are you keeping His commandments?
This doesn’t mean we don’t stumble occasionally, but we shouldn’t be living a life where we’re constantly breaking the Lord’s commandments. That’s why it’s important to always read the Bible, pray, and go to church, so that God can speak to you about how you’re walking in Him.
Today, ask the Lord, as David did in Psalm 139:23, to search me, O God, and know my heart. God gives us every tool we need to be able to abide with Jesus.
Wanting to know Jesus better,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
I love all types of music and all kinds of worship styles from the contemporary to the more traditional hymns. Worship after all is about the heart before God. Which is why I love our verses as the Lord directs His people to build the place of worship void of things that would distract: an altar of earth or stones not hewed or decorated. The height of the altar must provide for the modesty of the priests robes, not too high to expose them. With all the emphasis today on worship production: lights, lasers, smoke machines…things that distract, I long to see worship returned to the simple where God is the focus and there is nothing to drawn my attention away from Him.
Simple worship is best,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
If you cannot express yourself well on each of your beliefs, work and study until you can. If you don’t, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else.
But you must be willing to go through God’s winepress where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God’s truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God’s wine of strength to someone else.
But if you are not diligent, then the words will be of no value to you or to others. Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.
Pastor William Del Casale
