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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan:  Matthew 7:13-29

The Narrow and Wide Gates

“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.

True and False Prophets

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

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Daily Devotional: The Narrow Path

“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.

Matthew 7:13-14

The role I have at Willow meant that last September I was already deep in the Sermon on the Mount preparing for this series. As I was doing so, the world around us felt chaotic and uncertain. ICE was conducting Operation Midway Blitz in our communities and Charlie Kirk was murdered. My children were asking me very hard questions as their friends didn’t come to school and other friends sent them concerning videos. 

I was studying Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are the pure in heart, and Blessed are the peacemakers. And, Anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. And I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also—all while American Christians publicly responded to these very challenging times in ways that seemed quite the opposite of the Scriptures. 

Getting real honest with you: I wrestled with intense anger and deep disappointment as people I respected, from afar and within my circles, responded in ways I thought were antithetical to the Gospel. The anger and resentment building in me led to an othering of my brothers and sisters that made me no better than the very reasons I thought they were less than. 

This is where deep conviction began to settle in. Like the kind of conviction that forces you to your knees. I was participating in the dehumanizing of another person, even if just in my mind, as I stood firm on my “rightness.” 

I found tears welling in my eyes as I considered how much we, God’s children, were breaking His heart in the ways we were responding to and handling one another. What kind of a witness were we all to the world? To our neighbors? What kind of a witness was I if I would allow anger and resentment to simmer into demeaning thoughts? 

And this is when the narrow path became abundantly clear to me. The narrow path is the harder way. It is choosing love in the face of evil. It is choosing to treat another human with dignity, even if they won’t treat you that way. It is remaining utterly convinced that God is making all things new, even if “new” feels farther away than the moon. 

I had no idea that in just a few months I would be tested to live this narrow path. The conviction that set in last fall was an invitation to walk the Jesus way as I never had before—even after 20-plus years as a believer. But now, in the midst of the difficult, I can tell you with complete certainty that that narrow path is the better path. 

Next Steps

In this final week of the series, as we enter Holy Week, I pray that each of us would have the courage to walk the narrow path and choose the way of Jesus, treating others with the dignity that He wants for His image-bearers. 

Take the time to reflect on this series. Where did God stir the greatest conviction in your heart? That conviction is a gift from Him. Allow it to transform you more into His likeness, and I promise, you will be amazed at the beauty that will flow from your life.