Monday 20 August, 2012

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom” that assails my view of grace.  Isn’t salvation a work of God’s grace, not my effort?

Jesus response to the question about how many will be saved is quite arresting.

Jesus is clearly speaking to people who think they will be in heaven; they even had meals with the Lord and were taught by Him.

This is arresting, do I kno

w of Jesus or do I know Jesus?  Am I truly engaged in a relationship with Him or merely associated with Him.

My work is the work of relationship, expressed through loving and love filled actions of faith which demonstrate the reality of my relationship with Jesus.

Father may my ‘work’ in relating to you be from a true heart.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta