Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria Anglican Communion

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 31 March 2019 – Five Instructions For The Narrow Gate

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TOPIC: Five Instructions For The Narrow Gate

READ: Matthew 7:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in 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:

THE MESSAGE:

Have you ever been to a cave? The entrance to caves is usually narrow, requiring entrants to make personal adjustments to pass through them. The tour guide usually gives instructions to enable entrants fit into the door and other parts of the cave so that they can be safe.

Today’s reading advises us to enter through the narrow gate if we want life (verse 13-14).

Those who wish to heed to this advice are required to do the following:

(1) First, conduct a personal inward search into their lives instead of criticising others. The aim is to remove beams or impediments that will constitute an obstacle in their heavenly race.

(2) Desist from giving holy things to dogs which entails playing or jesting with spiritual things, marrying non-believers, discussing spiritual matters/problems in the Church with the wrong people. The result is that they will turn around and make a mockery of our faith (verse 6).

(3) Persevere in prayers (verses 7-8).

(4) Adhere to the golden rule which states that you should do what you want others to do for you (verse 12).

(5) Trust absolutely on the faithfulness and love of God (verse 11).

This truly requires a life of sacrifice.

Prayer: Lord help me to adhere to these instructions so that I can pass through the narrow gate of life in Jesus Name. AMEN