Matthew 7: 13-14 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

In a culture where Christianity is portrayed as “narrow-minded”, these verses simply affirm what Jesus said is the case, as well as how urgent His mission to share the “good news” to skeptical souls really is.

Matthew 7: 15-20 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  16 By their fruit you will recognize them…”

that will attempt to commandeer it for their own purposes. Just like there were false prophets in the Old Testament, Jesus warns His disciples to be on guard against future individuals within His church that will attempt to commandeer it for their own purposes.

Matthew 7: 21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,  but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.  22 Many will say to me on that day,  ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

the false belief that they are saved and Sad and scary reality: Many people will live and die under the false belief that they are saved and are going to Heaven when they have not followed God’s Plan for doing so through His Son.

1 John 5: 2-4 2 “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world.”

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” It has often been accurately said, “We quickly accept Jesus as our Savior, but resist obeying Him as our Lord.”

Luke 6:47 “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice,  I will show you what they are like…”

Matthew 7: 24-27 If our lives are built with “integrity”, a true combination of rock-solid faith in Christ that is lived out in our actions…we will be able to stand up under the storms that life brings. However, if our faith is superficial and has not been lived out in the “laboratory of life”, the troubles of life will tear us down.

1 Peter 1: 6-7 (James 1: 2-4) 6 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

“O love of God, so unrestrained, Refresh our souls in Jesus’ name “O love of God, so unrestrained, Refresh our souls in Jesus’ name. Let us reflect Your sacrifice That we may know the Risen Christ.”