Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to (everlasting) life, and there are few who find it.  

Sometimes the routes that are harder to take hold the greatest reward.  We choose to take the more challenging way with more significant gain through Jesus Christ or the easier route of the flesh and sin.  The goal is eternal life and not hell and damnation.  It may be a complex concept to bear but an internal reality that we all must face someday. 

Psalm 25:9-10

He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.  All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.  

As born-again believers, we obtained Abraham’s covenant when we accepted Jesus as our savior.  However, it takes time to learn that way and trust in the faithfulness of God.  When we humble ourselves and allow God to teach us His ways, we will have a revelation of goodness and truth.  Our increase in this life comes when we learn how big God is and that we have much to learn from Him.  

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man what is good; and what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love (and to diligently practice) kindness (compassion) and to walk humbly with your God (setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness)?

If doing good and being a kind person was easy, God would have never given us the Bible to guide and tell us to practice.  We instruct children and teach them how to behave, and, in a sense, we are the same before God.  We are His children to whom He instructs and tells us to practice being humble and loving because He loves us!

1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God (set aside self-righteousness pride), so that He may exalt you (to the place of honor in His service) at the appropriate time.

Aging is the great equalizer of knowledge and teaches us that there are always new things we need to learn.  When we keep ourselves humble, we keep ourselves open to learning from God.  The more God teaches us, and the more we know, the more God will be able to exalt us to places of honor at the appropriate time. 

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear.  Is life not more than food, and body more than clothing.  

Fear and worry work in the opposite direction of faith.  Fear cancels out faith and erodes the power of God to work on our behalf.  We can’t have fear and expect to receive from God.  Faith is what pleases God, and we increase our confidence when we study the Word.  Speak to the mountain with the Word in faith and watch it disappear. 

Amos 5:13

Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a (corrupt and evil) times, for it is an evil time (when people will not listen to the truth and will disregard those of good character).

The truth is not always well received in an evil time, making it hard to speak into people’s lives.  Hold fast to the Word of God. We must pray to keep evil from our families when in a time of evil when people desire the lie over the truth and ignore the sound judgment.  Do not lose heart, for God is still in control, and He hears and answers our prayers.   

Ezekiel 12:2

Son of man, you live among a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious people.  

God is a love, God. Sin rebels against the love and goodness of God, deceiving many.  The problem with sin is that it blinds the eyes instead of opening them.  We can’t hear from God in sin and rebellion and then walk paths towards God, but we walk paths away.  Freedom for our lives only comes when we walk in the light of the Word of God.   

Proverbs 22:1

A Good name (earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity) is more desirable than great riches; and favor is better than silver and gold.  

Trust from people is based on our behavior and being trustworthy ourselves—our decisions in public and private show in our character.  Everyone should strive to have an honorable, reliable character because God can use a person like that to do His work here on earth.  

Proverbs 22:3

A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil (of sin) and hides himself (from it), but the naïve continue on and are punished (by suffering the consequences of sin).  

As Pastor Monte says, “Flee from sin…run away from it!”  Little sins lead to bigger sins because the conscious has compromised itself and loses sensitivity to sin.  That is why the Bible stresses that we keep on guard.  Our goal is to live a life with clean hands and a pure heart.  

Deuteronomy 30:20

By loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The amount that we love the Lord and trust in His promises will reflect in the amount we receive our promised land.  When we are willing to do our part, God can do His part.  If we feel we are not receiving from God, then do a heart check.  Spend time with the Lord, and He will direct us back on the path so the blessings may flow.