Tag: Narrow Door

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 13:22-30 NLT – the narrow door

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT

Slimmer's door, Ringwood Church, . This unusually narrow door occupies a rightangled corner formed by the main walls of the church of St Peter & St Paul.
Slimmer’s door, Ringwood Church.
This unusually narrow door occupies a rightangled corner formed by the main walls of the church of St Peter & St Paul, Ringwood, England.

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world — from east and west, north and south — to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Open my heart to all you have for me today. Change my mind… my attitudes… my habits,.. my actions… to conform to your will.  Forgive my pride in thinking that I know it all… and give me a teachable spirit. Help me to discern between understanding born out of experience… and bias, or prejudice, born out of limited experience. Lord Jesus – It’s my heart’s desire to be true to you… in this life and the life to come. Amen.

Hymn: “I Would Be True” – H. A. Walter (1906)

I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all — the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would be faithful through each passing moment; I would be constantly in touch with God; I would be strong to follow where He leads me; I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

Who is so low that I am not his brother? Who is so high that I’ve no path to him? Who is so poor I may not feel his hunger? Who is so rich I may not pity him?

Who is so hurt I may not know his heartache? Who sings for joy my heart may never share? Who in God’s heav’n has passed beyond my vision? Who to hell’s depths where I may never fare?

May none, then, call on me for understanding, May none, then, turn to me for help in pain, And drain alone his bitter cup of sorrow, Or find he knocks upon my heart in vain.

Morning Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT – it ain’t easy

Reading: Luke 13:22-30 NLT

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

"The Narrow Door" This photo was taken at the first parish church in Plymoth, MA. It is the site of the original "pilgrim's church" which migrated from Leiden, Holland to the new world.
“The Narrow Door”
This photo was taken at the first parish church in Plymoth, MA. It is the site of the original “pilgrim’s church” which migrated from Leiden, Holland to the new world.

He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.

“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the courage and fortitude to do hard things for you. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to percieve your Kingdom purposes in the world around me. And make me a doer of your Word and not a hearer only. To you be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be” – Frances R. Havergal (1874)