‘Joyful Obedience'
Jesus himself said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt 7:13-14). Imagine that you are going down the highway. On the left there are a bunch of thorn bushes, and just beyond that, there are woods, then a cliff. On the right side is a deep ditch then a highway heading in the opposite direction. If you go off the road either way, you could end up in serious trouble. At the least, your tires might be punctured, alignment off, or an axle broken. At the worst, you could die by crashing into trees, going over a cliff, or hitting another car head on. Sometimes it is rainy on the highway, sometimes foggy, and every night it is dark. In that case, I’m very pleased that paint designates the lanes, reflectors reveal the edge of the road, and guardrails keep me from worse damage when a tire blows or I fall asleep. Not only do these safety features keep me from serious delays and harm, but they also help me get to where I want to go.
Thank God for His law! God’s law helps us avoid all the heartache, pain, and brokenness that comes from going off the Path of Life. Even better, it allows us to enjoy the blessed journey on the way to a glorious destination. Life is hard enough; we don’t need any more problems than we have already. Choose joyful obedience to stay on the Path of Life.
Seeking God’s Kingdom,
Jonathan