Narrow is the Way

 

I do not like this verse: 

Matthew 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

I want everyone to find the way to life! But when Jesus teaches us the parable of the Sower and the Seeds, He gives us realistic expectations. There are four types of soil, (the path: hearer does not understand and the seed is snatched away; rocky ground: rootless, trials and persecution comes so they fall away; thorny: cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choke it; good soil: a person hears, understands, and bears fruit) where the seed is sown, but only one bears fruit. Only one!

Again, I do not like this! I pour myself into ministry and beg God to save lost people I know. I do not see many come to Christ, and sometimes I feel discouraged. I have prayed for years that some people would be saved! Maybe God has called these people, but they refuse Him still? He has moved some mountains for me, but He will not force people to accept salvation. What good is coerced love? “… those who find it are few.”

I am sure many of you have experienced the same thing. What can we do? We cannot save a soul, but we can do our best to prepare the soil of people’s hearts:

We can make sure the gospel is clear. Before we can do that though, we must discover where people are on the journey and what barriers keep them in unbelief. (I recommend the book, “Conversational Evangelism,” by Norman and David Geisler for further thoughts on this.)

We can attend to discipleship, so people do not simply get distracted by life/trials and fall away. This might mean building a genuine, caring relationship with someone and investing time in them. (I say genuine, caring relationship, because nobody wants to be somebody’s ministry.) I know, we are all busy, but this is important! The first step for us might be to build some margin of time into our schedules, but that is another topic.

We can address suffering and persecution (thorns that choke the gospel). Many people cannot accept God’s love, because they get hung up on why He allows suffering. We cannot ignore these objections and might need to read up on these topics ourselves.

We can be faithful in prayer for the lost, begging God to soften their hearts, open their eyes, and to woo them with His love.

There are no guarantees that people will be saved even with these efforts, but at least we will know we have given our best for God’s kingdom. These are small things compared to the hard things Jesus did for us! If nothing else, there’s a good chance we will make some good friends along the way. I know I have.

What steps will you take to get started?

joyce hague

God's Man, Job

 

Have you read the book of Job recently? Talk about encouragement from his friends! Actually, we might have assumed the same as they did...God was punishing Job for some sin...Surely God was!!  But they did not know about the conversation God had previously with Satan when He told Satan there was no one else like Job “in all the earth...a perfect and upright man (1:8).” So was this really chastisement for sin?

 These “miserable comforters,” as Job called them (16:1), did have some wise statements that we need to consider. Eliphaz described Job with words that we can all hope are spoken about us:

 Job 4:3-4... “You have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him that was falling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees.”

 “You have instructed many.”   I don’t think that was “preaching” at people. But Job had taught others the way to live. God called him a perfect and upright man. His friends and family learned from Job’s character not just his words.  What example are we showing to our children, our families, our friends when we are tired, aggravated, stressed, or joyful? Are they being instructed to live for the Lord by watching us?

 “You have strengthened weak hands.” This may not be a literal weakness of the hands. To me it implies someone who is weary of doing well...or weary of just doing. Perhaps there is someone who takes on many responsibilities at church or in your office or neighborhood and your help would “strengthen weak hands.” Maybe even just a one-time gesture at the grocery or some other public place. Not glaring at the mother of a howling child who ought to be taking a nap at home. J Perhaps your spouse or child is in need of that extra attention....even when that family member has stretched you to your limits!

 “Your words have upheld him that was falling.” Wow! Isn’t that wonderful to hear? Have you, TODAY, said some kind, helpful, encouraging word to someone who had just about given up?

 When Brant was European Director at BIMI, he so often used these words when we visited our missionaries in their homes overseas and could see they were discouraged: “We are on your side.” Often even visible relief came with those simple words!  Ask the Lord to help you to always enter a room “with your head up” and looking for someone who needs encouragement or someone who would be encouraged by your LISTENING EAR...not just your words.

 “You have strengthened the feeble knees.”  I think weak knees are even worse than weak hands. Weak knees make a person very unsure. Spiritually, weak knees could keep a person from making the right decision for the Lord. Or perhaps feeble knees indicate hesitancy to serve. Come along side that person just as you would if you saw someone stumbling from physical weakness.

 We can’t always see “weak hands” or “feeble knees,” can we? But the Holy Spirit can direct us to those who need us to encourage them. We might have to stop and slow our spiritual rush of busyness to accomplish this. This has to be intentional.

 Amazing! God is still using the story of “righteous Job” for us thousands of years later as an example of how to handle difficulty and “miserable comforters.”  Job declared: (19:25) “FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH...” If you have not read this fantastic book of the Bible that is filled with wisdom, pathos, God’s power, and even humor, do it.

--Maylou Holladay

Lost in the Snow

 

 

In the early 70s, Paul and I, not yet married, lived in the dorms at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. Almost everyone who lived on campus knew almost everyone who lived on campus.

 One of Paul’s dorm mates was John, who, like many babies of the 40s and 50s, had been blinded by being given too much oxygen at his premature birth. (This problem was identified and the procedure changed in 1956.) John was completely blind, navigated with the aid of a white cane, and was immensely strong, coordinated and independent. He knew the campus grounds and buildings perfectly, using the guidelines of curbs, sidewalks, grass, thresholds and sounds.

 John’s ability to function normally was absolutely reliable. Once when there was a problem with a leaky water pipe in their dorm, the roommates sent John out to “look for” the maintenance man. He walked outside, listened for the sound of the big mower, went to the area and stood still directly in the path the mower would be taking. Uncle Herb stopped the mower, asked John what he wanted and went to the dorm to fix the leak.

 In Iowa, snow doesn’t just fall. It drifts. Inches and inches of snow, combined with the usual winds, form elongated piles of snow, which seem to be randomly placed and which may move as the storm goes on. They can be very deep – anything from one to four feet deep, more if there is a heavy snow. Over time, the drifts can solidify. We have a photo of a classmate standing on a snowdrift with his foot atop a street sign. I’ve seen cows walk over a fence on a snowdrift.

 Snow was a particular problem to John, as it obliterated the landmarks. He could lose track of the curbs, the sidewalks and the grass. During one particularly wild snowstorm, someone realized that John was missing – not in dorm or class or lunchroom or library. The word spread (even without cell phones) and friends became alarmed, knowing he would not be able to find his way around. Had he gone out and gotten lost? No one could find him safe in any building. There was confusion and concern, rising as time went on. Eventually, someone contacted the Dean of the school, and there it ended. John was in the living room, having tea with the Dean and his wife.

 Isn’t this a perfectly accurate depiction of our lives? We can’t actually see where our lives are going, and the drifts of life trip us up, even when we think we know the lay of the land.  Without the Lord, Who is much more than the Dean of our lives, we are lost in a storm worse than any snowstorm. But in reality, if we choose Him, we are safe in His living room, sharing tea and cookies. He’s right there, offering peace in our storms and safety for our souls. The storms are real and they are scary. So also His peace and comfort are real and His promises are the hope of a reality with Him forever.

 --Lynda Shenefield

 

Freedom of Choice

 

When my children were young, we watched The Little Mermaid more than once. There is a point in the story when Ariel must choose to give up her own way for the good of her father. I think I am remembering this correctly. The part I do recall is that Ursula says, with a wicked smirk, “Life is full of hard choices, isn’t it?”  And that is so. This poem by new Grace member MaryBeth Hall will help you think about your choices. (Sherry)

John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

When circumstances turn my attitude sour,

I increase.

When I respond with His gracious power,

He increases.

When I think only of what I feel or want,

I increase.

When I put others’ needs at the forefront,

He increases.

When I sulk inside and those thoughts hold sway,

I increase.

When I praise His goodness anyway,

He increases.

When all I see is what is wrong,

I increase.

When I count my blessings all day long,

He increases.

When I resign to temptation’s pull,

I increase.

When I by faith choose to follow His rule,

He increases.

When fear, frustration, or anger loom large,

I increase.

When Jesus in all His glory takes charge,

He increases.

And those decisions never cease:

Will I increase?

Will He increase?

MaryBeth Boley Hall