6.20.25 ~ Matthew 5-7 Style
Good morning!
One of the favorite verses here at the Faith Works Clinic is Matthew 7:13,14.
Enter at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13,14)
There is a straight gate and there is a narrow path and there is a broad gate and an easy path (Matt. 7:13,14). Thanks Mr. Obvious :-) The practical question for the morning is, What binds/tzarot you? What hems/tzarot you in? Is it the fringes/Tzitzit on the hem of your garment (Num. 15:38, 39; Matt. 14:36)? Is it His yoke that's a burden, but it's light (Matt. 11:28,29; Jer. 6:16)? What makes you feel as if you have no options, no choices? What propels you into the narrow straits/tzarot? All of these things are tszarot/narrow or confined. BTW, for those who have been bought with a price, they don't belong to themselves any more (1 Cor. 6:19,20).
If this word looks familiar, it should, because it's connected to the word Egypt/mitzraim, and tribulation/tzar...Passover terms that are very familiar to us. Hence, the need to feed on the 'Lamb' every Spring.
If you've ever walked through a canyon, or spelunking in a cave, you can get the imagery of moving from the wide open spaces to a narrow place of constriction...Walls on either side. One way in and only one way out. There is the feeling of the walls closing in or collapsing in a rock slide. Constraint produces fear. Personally, I don't like that feeling. I prefer the wide open spaces where I can see for miles; as well as the enemy approaching so I can prepare. It's in those open spaces where I feel free and confident that I can defend myself. I have freedom to move as I feel the need. There are no hidden dangers. Narrow is too confining! I can't run away. I feel indefensible. I'm squeezed like a lemon into lemonade. It's definitely not my choice of living.
Many of you know this reality much more than myself! King David, on the other hand, who knew your reality, was privileged to be able to have his 'diary' expressed for our encouragement to keep pressing deeper into the narrow place (Psa. 25:17).
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: save me out of my distresses!. (Psa. 25:17)
He knew distress. He knew the constraints. He knew about the vice grip of life seizing him and not letting go. He knew circumstances that were tight. Situations that bound him. That made him obligated to face reality. He knew about the feeling of being 'tied to the RR tracks'.
The next question I ask myself is,' What do we (speaking of me, myself and I) do about this? Matthew 5-7 gives us the details on how to handle entering into this straight gate and narrow places. I'd encourage you to read it daily for the next 20 days of counting towards the fruit of the wine :-).
What if Yeshua is saying that being bound, being tied down is the way to faithfulness? What if Yeshua is echoing David’s declaration, 'Until I was afflicted, I did not listen to You, O Lord' (Psa 119:67-71)?
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psa. 119:67-71)
What if the narrow way is the way of choosing a lifestyle that is not about the 'open spaces'? What if the blessing of this path comes through suffering (Matt. 5:10)? It forces us to look at the people in our lives differently (Matt. 7:1-4); even our enemies (Matt. 5:45-49). What if it's a discipleship path that's more than a quick prayer for deliverance out of uncomfortable situations?
Why is it that few find it (Matt. 7:14)? Why? Because, the normative response from most is to choose 'flight' rather than fight through the narrow places that God engineers in our lives. We, speaking of me, myself and I, do our best to deflect, ignore and break free of His way of getting our attention. We don’t want to be pushed or pulled toward God, even if He is doing the pushing and pulling. We want to do it our way. Live life on our terms. Live life the way we want (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).
"There is a way that seems right to a man..." (Prov. 14:12; 16:25)
The narrow way is the way of restraint. A life under God’s direction, of being bound to His Torah/His instructions. The narrow way is the way of true freedom, but for most of us it feels like rule-bound behavior. No wonder few find it. Only the few are willing to go through the narrow passage that leads to life with God.
Life can be messy. It's filled with pressure. It has its limits. It's boundaries. Some days I just want to get off and let the world keep 'spinning'...calgon, take me away! But rather than run, perhaps we need to reconsider the engineering of the Heavenly Master. We are in tight spots for a reason. He's giving us a chance to respond in 'Matthew 5-7' style. Nothing is accidental. The straight gate and narrow path is the love of the Father.
King David longed to be brought out (Psa. 25:17), which makes me want to make an observational question: 'what if the way out is to go deeper on the narrow path (Matt. 5-7)?
Happy preparation day & Shabbat shalom!
Alan
Enter at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13,14)
There is a straight gate and there is a narrow path and there is a broad gate and an easy path (Matt. 7:13,14). Thanks Mr. Obvious :-) The practical question for the morning is, What binds/tzarot you? What hems/tzarot you in? Is it the fringes/Tzitzit on the hem of your garment (Num. 15:38, 39; Matt. 14:36)? Is it His yoke that's a burden, but it's light (Matt. 11:28,29; Jer. 6:16)? What makes you feel as if you have no options, no choices? What propels you into the narrow straits/tzarot? All of these things are tszarot/narrow or confined. BTW, for those who have been bought with a price, they don't belong to themselves any more (1 Cor. 6:19,20).
If this word looks familiar, it should, because it's connected to the word Egypt/mitzraim, and tribulation/tzar...Passover terms that are very familiar to us. Hence, the need to feed on the 'Lamb' every Spring.
If you've ever walked through a canyon, or spelunking in a cave, you can get the imagery of moving from the wide open spaces to a narrow place of constriction...Walls on either side. One way in and only one way out. There is the feeling of the walls closing in or collapsing in a rock slide. Constraint produces fear. Personally, I don't like that feeling. I prefer the wide open spaces where I can see for miles; as well as the enemy approaching so I can prepare. It's in those open spaces where I feel free and confident that I can defend myself. I have freedom to move as I feel the need. There are no hidden dangers. Narrow is too confining! I can't run away. I feel indefensible. I'm squeezed like a lemon into lemonade. It's definitely not my choice of living.
Many of you know this reality much more than myself! King David, on the other hand, who knew your reality, was privileged to be able to have his 'diary' expressed for our encouragement to keep pressing deeper into the narrow place (Psa. 25:17).
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: save me out of my distresses!. (Psa. 25:17)
He knew distress. He knew the constraints. He knew about the vice grip of life seizing him and not letting go. He knew circumstances that were tight. Situations that bound him. That made him obligated to face reality. He knew about the feeling of being 'tied to the RR tracks'.
The next question I ask myself is,' What do we (speaking of me, myself and I) do about this? Matthew 5-7 gives us the details on how to handle entering into this straight gate and narrow places. I'd encourage you to read it daily for the next 20 days of counting towards the fruit of the wine :-).
What if Yeshua is saying that being bound, being tied down is the way to faithfulness? What if Yeshua is echoing David’s declaration, 'Until I was afflicted, I did not listen to You, O Lord' (Psa 119:67-71)?
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psa. 119:67-71)
What if the narrow way is the way of choosing a lifestyle that is not about the 'open spaces'? What if the blessing of this path comes through suffering (Matt. 5:10)? It forces us to look at the people in our lives differently (Matt. 7:1-4); even our enemies (Matt. 5:45-49). What if it's a discipleship path that's more than a quick prayer for deliverance out of uncomfortable situations?
Why is it that few find it (Matt. 7:14)? Why? Because, the normative response from most is to choose 'flight' rather than fight through the narrow places that God engineers in our lives. We, speaking of me, myself and I, do our best to deflect, ignore and break free of His way of getting our attention. We don’t want to be pushed or pulled toward God, even if He is doing the pushing and pulling. We want to do it our way. Live life on our terms. Live life the way we want (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).
"There is a way that seems right to a man..." (Prov. 14:12; 16:25)
The narrow way is the way of restraint. A life under God’s direction, of being bound to His Torah/His instructions. The narrow way is the way of true freedom, but for most of us it feels like rule-bound behavior. No wonder few find it. Only the few are willing to go through the narrow passage that leads to life with God.
Life can be messy. It's filled with pressure. It has its limits. It's boundaries. Some days I just want to get off and let the world keep 'spinning'...calgon, take me away! But rather than run, perhaps we need to reconsider the engineering of the Heavenly Master. We are in tight spots for a reason. He's giving us a chance to respond in 'Matthew 5-7' style. Nothing is accidental. The straight gate and narrow path is the love of the Father.
King David longed to be brought out (Psa. 25:17), which makes me want to make an observational question: 'what if the way out is to go deeper on the narrow path (Matt. 5-7)?
Happy preparation day & Shabbat shalom!
Alan
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