“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”—Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)

In John 14:6, Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.(NLT) Christianity isn’t a religion, it is a way of life for us. Dictonary.com defines religion as,  the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. It alludes to religion being about man’s efforts to find God through rituals and rules. 

Jesus doesn’t give us a list of ritualistic practices or customs we have to follow to get to heaven. He tells us there is only one way, the narrow gate, through Him that we will have eternal life. The greatest commandments we are given is to love God and love others. That sounds like a way of life not a set of rules for us doesn’t it?

We all have the promise of eternal life when we are in Christ. Good works, human accomplishments and moral living are all good things but that isn’t what saves us. Jesus set us free from all of the Old Testament ritualistic practices and made us clean when He died on the cross for us. His death secured our salvation in Him. 

It is easy to get caught up in what we think we need to do to lead a Christian life. However, if we don’t know Christ’s heart, how can we live like Him? Our confidence can get wrapped up in our outward activity. We can go to church every week, attend a Bible study and make sure we pray each day, yet still feel empty. 

If we don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, no amount of religious activity is going to fill our souls. We have to ask ourselves the question, Am I doing these things out of my love for Him or how it appears to others? I don’t know about you, but there have been times I have agreed to be involved with a project because of how it looks, not because it is something led by the Spirit that will glorify God.

However, as I have matured in my faith, I have learned to discern those nudges from the Holy Spirt that convict me to pray before I respond. That didn’t come naturally. I learned the hard way that I don’t have to say yes to every volunteer opportunity that comes my way just because I am asked. Prayer will always reveal if it is something God is calling me to do. If it is something God wants me to do, He will give me some kind of confirmation along with peace. It has now become a way of life for me. I want others to find that same joy and peace, don’t you?

This week there will be church services being held all over our world to celebrate the death, resurrection, and life we now have because of Christ’s crucifixion on the cross on hill called, Golgotha. Is there someone you can invite to your church this week? If you don’t have a church to visit, I personally invite you to Milestone Church. While there will be nearly 20 in-person services, they are also available to watch online anywhere you live. 

With that, I leave you with one of my favorite hymns that will be sung in many churches this Easter Sunday. Because He Lives. This is another song that brings tears to my eyes. It is because He lives, that both you and I can face tomorrow. Praise Jesus!

Father God, 

Thank You for the greatest gift I have ever received, Jesus. I praise You that I am saved and loved. Forgive me when I let the approval of others supersede the Holy Spirit’s promptings. I know that good works and going to church aren’t what saves me. Help me to rest in Your presence knowing my salvation is secure. Open eyes this week so that others will see Your Son’s death and resurrection give life and the promise of eternity with You. Lead me to someone to invite to church this week. It is in Your Son’s precious name, Jesus, that I pray these things. Amen. 

April Verse

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”—Psalm 113:3 

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