4.17-The Narrow Road

4.17-

As I meditated on Matthew 15 this morning and prayed for my family of six I wrote some intentions I hoped for our family from my point of view.

We go to the wise for guidance and for warning.

We are a joyful people who seek to improve our intelligence by seeking knowledge.

We don’t play religious word games.  Religious arrogance and conceit are not proper for us.

We honor all the members of our family.  We honor the mother and the father.  We honor the grandfather and the grandmother.  How?  By praying for them.  By thinking, “What do they possibly need?”   Can I provide something they want or need.  Then do it.

We know that things that are not rooted in God’s wisdom, but that are evil are going to be torn up someday.  It could be on earth in our lifetime, but it might be after our life.  Things that are against God’s plan will be destroyed eventually.

Matthew 15.
¹² Then the disciples *came and *said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were ^[d]offended when they heard this statement?” ¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone; they are blind guides ^[e]of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

We are trying to help each other move away from evil thoughts.  What are these thoughts?

Murder. Hate. Anger. Rage.

Adultery. Lust. Pornography. Fornication. Sexual immorality.

Theft. Greed. Materialism. Over focus on money and things.

False testimony.  Lies. Deceit.

Slander.  Gossip.

We are trying to walk the narrow path rather than the broad path on these matters.  We have boundaries and guard rails in our lives. 

We are not focused on false or old outdated religion.  We are focused on helping people who need help.  With compassion we try to help the hungry and needy and homeless. 

We are asking God to help us achieve success that lasts for all our lives and carries us to the next life in heaven.

We walk day by day with faith in God.  God is the boat we ride through the storm in.  God is the mother bird and we fly under His wings.  When we start to fall He sweeps under us.

We are day by day giving things we have to God and allowing Him to use them for His good. 

We want to thank God for food every time we eat.

We don’t waste food or anything else. 

We live in a time where events seem to overwhelm us at times.  The one who unfold history so we can understand it is Jesus Christ who is the lamb of God slain on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  God loves us and when we get off track all we have to do is admit it and get back to the truth of the matter and ask His forgiveness and ask forgiveness of each other when needed.

We will not always please everyone with our lifestyle and our words.  Those who want to live against our way of life will at times be upset with us.  We will respond with deeper commitment and prayer and grace.

Because I know I fail every day to live up to these ideals I will get on my knees and pray for grace and mercy and guidance each day.

Matthew 15.

¹⁵ Peter ^[f]said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” ^16 [g]Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? ¹⁷ Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is ^[h]eliminated? ¹⁸ But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, ^[i]fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. ²⁰ These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

Larry Wishard

Matthew 15, Acts 21.5, Revelation 4,5, 1 Timothy 6.11-16, Psalm 119.104, Psalm 91, Proverbs 15.12-14, Ecclesiastes 4.9-12,