In The Word
Read: Matthew 7:13-29
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
The Two Foundations
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”
28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
There is only one way to God and that is through Yeshua, the Christ. Believe that Jesus is Christ and follow Him by following His teachings into a relationship built on love and trust. This is what it means to have true faith in Christ. However, many people today try to move the markers of God. They think that they are letting more people into the Kingdom of God; in reality, they are leading more people into deception and destruction.
False teachers do this in many ways. One teacher could be teaching people that faith in Christ is simply believing in who He is without the commitment to becoming who He is. James tells us that this kind of faith is dead. Another teacher might be telling people that all they have to do to be saved is follow Jesus’ teachings and do good works without the commitment to have a relationship with Him. This kind of faith is based on our works instead of His works.
We are told to be careful of these false teachers; they can be recognized by their life style. See if there is good fruit or bad fruit being produced through their lives. Do they walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit? How is their marriage? What is the behavior of their children like in their home? We must be careful, for not all that come in His name carry His name.
If we have real faith in Christ, we will build our lives on His holy teachings because of our love for Him. As we do this, Christ will give us the power to withstand any storm that we may face. This is the Ancient Path to life. Which path will you choose?