The Road Less Traveled Pt.2
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Get Back On Track
Get Back On Track
13 “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.
14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The term “the Way” has very little meaning to us today as we are use to being called Christians, but I wonder if we ever really thought about what that word means Christian - It was intended to be comedic and an insult. It derived from the word Chrestos - meaning good or kind. And since the followers of Christ were doing all that Christ had commanded them to do, that made them Christians. The same way we say call ourselves by our state or country. Michiganders, or Americans, Canadians etc… This identifies who we are to ourselves and others.
The problem is that most of us are not truly living up to the name given to us by the world. as a matter of fact it has all become so cliche to call yourself a Christian that just about everyone does it now! But this just isn’t true. I love what one Bible Dictionary says.
Denoting intimate relation to Jesus.
I don’t know if most can say that? I am in no way judging anyone with their walk with God. But I propose we all do an extensive heart search and see if you really are walking with Him on an intimate level.
Following Christ was far from being simply an abstract belief; it was a whole way of life. The new way of living was obvious to those around Christians and to the Christians themselves, for they were following Jesus’ life style, the way he had lived and what He taught. Which is why the rest of this message I want to talk about “the Way” The Ways of Christ and what is expected of us.
You must live by “the Way”.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:12
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
We have all heard this said by everyone we know. It’s called the “Golden Rule”. But when Jesus uses it, He saying it from a positive position. He’s saying, when others do you wrong, you do right first to them. before you expect them to do right to you.
I can’t see you, but I can hear you loudly right now! Pastor you don’t know what they’ve done to me though! I ain’t do that. Well then you should rethink your title you are wearing and maybe cultural christian is the better one for you to wear. Remember, this is what “the Way” believed and taught.
If you can’t do this then technically you’ve already failed and can’t be a real follower of Christ.
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
This is a very vivid picture Jesus paints. He shows us two kinds of people.
The one who has built his life on hearing God’s Word and doing it!
The other on hearing God’s Word and not doing it! Not living by it!
As a carpenter Jesus understood what it meant to build on a good foundation vs. a bad one. For there were many valleys which were dry gulleys in summer but which, during the rains, became filled with torrents of rushing water. But above all, the illustration is appropriate to the nature of Christian discipleship, for we are building the character and spiritual achievements of the godly life as we walk with Him. Such building calls for a good and sure foundation and this was exactly what Jesus was providing. A sure and good foundation vs. one that would crumble at the torrents of life. Jesus is the foundation. He is the way the truth and the life. To follow the Way is to be obedient.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
You must be faithful to “the Way”.
22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
It is too easy to get side tracked and knocked off the path of righteousness. This is what Jesus is saying here. Don’t make the things of this world priority. All too often I have found myself saying I trust God, but then the minute the storm gets a little ruff, I find myself looking at the storm and not at the one who can calm the storm.
Which mean I am leaning to my own understanding and not to “the Way”. Remember the way is a way of life, not just a religious idea.
Acting in faith is much more than mental belief. It is total trust that what you are doing is in God’s perfect will and that He is leading you every step of the way. Norman Vincent Peale relates the telling words of a surgeon:
The [operation] that meant the most to me was the time I operated on a little girl who was given only a ten percent chance of survival. She was such a sweet little thing, and so pale when they brought her into the operating room.
… As the nurses were preparing to administer the anesthetic to this little girl, she asked, “Doctor, may I say something?”
“Yes, honey,” I replied. “What is it?”
“Well,” she said, “every night when I go to bed I say my prayers, and I’d like to say a prayer now.”
“That’s all right, honey, please say your prayer, and think of me, too, won’t you?”
In a sweet voice she prayed,
“Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be thou near me:
Keep me safe till morning light.”
“And, dear God, please bless the doctor.” Then she added brightly, “I’m ready now. And I’m not afraid, because Jesus loves me and He is right here with me and is going to bring me through okay.”
I was blinded by my tears. I had to turn away and occupy myself with another wash-up before I could start the operation. And I said, “Dear God, if You never help me save another human being, help me save this little girl.” I operated on her and the miracle happened. She lived! Leaving the hospital that day, I realized that I was the one who had been operated on, not the girl. She taught me that if I take all my problems and put them in the hands of Jesus, He will see me through.
Oh, for the faith of a child! Lord grant that each one of us would walk so closely and trust so fully in Him!
We must be obedient to “the Way”.
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
How will Jesus do this? Simple. He will accept us into His Kingdom.
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
The one who has the commands of Jesus (has received them and made them his own) and obeys them (puts them into daily practice) is the one who loves Jesus. The instructions of our Lord were given not to make us better theologians but better people. It would be better to remain uninstructed than to hear a command and fail to obey it. Ryle, 4:311, correctly says that “passive impressions which do not lead to action, gradually deaden and paralyze the heart.” To know carries the obligation to obey. Obedience is the proof of love.
Obedience is the proof of love.
we must begin to look past being the cultural Christian and become the true believer, who lives out all of Christ commands. We must be the ones, who wake up breathing “the Way”, thinking “the Way” acting out “the Way”, because that all means we are truly walking in “the Way”. To walk out the way is to really become like Christ.
Let’s pray.