Jesus warns us that the way to Heaven is narrow. It does not always look like the easiest of ways. And yet it is the only way to eternal life lived with Him. Nicole and Sharon talk today about this unpopular Christian position, and how we get this belief straight from our Founder - our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ Himself. Join us for the discussion about believing there is one way in a world that believes there are many.
[su_spoiler title="Read transcript for The Narrow Way" icon="arrow-circle-1"] Speaker 1 (00:02): Welcome friend. It's time to hit pause on your busy day and enjoy the Sweet Selah Moments podcast. Let's ponder God's Word together and find the encouragement we need to work well and rest well. The Sweet Selah Moments podcast is brought to you by Word Radio and Sweet Selah Ministries. Nicole (00:30): Welcome to episode 23 of the Sweet Selah moments podcast. Today's episode is called The Narrow Way. We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount this fall season and this is our last episode. We've discovered a lot about Jesus, his heart, and what he says is important. And it often does go against what we self centered humans might think is best. Sharon, looking back on this fall what are some of the harder lessons you recall from this series? Sharon (00:54): Oh, there were a lot. Nicole (00:56): There were. Sharon (00:56): I think being happy when you are persecuted has to rank right up there. To consider it an honor, to be different and looked down upon because we follow Christ is hard for people pleasers, but it's really fitting that we should learn that and do it. So, but the narrow way says that I choose Christ even when it's unpopular. I think another hard one is to love enemies and turn the other cheek. My first response is normally to push back and Jesus' teaching that I need to respond with love is so good and so hard. How about you, Nicole? Nicole (01:33): Oh, that anger, anger boils up so quickly for me. And there is plenty to be angry about in our world right now. You know, that lack of justice is really just, Oh, it's hard. And I'd second the 'turn the cheek one'. Again, so difficult, but worth the effort to learn to do. Sharon (01:49): You know, one of the things that has come across just about every episode we've done together is that although God's ways seem hard, they are always right and lead to blessing. Nicole (01:58): That's true. Sharon (01:59): We've seen it over and over again. No matter how hard it is to obey, in the end, we see the beauty in it and acknowledge that the one who made us really does know best how we should live. Nicole (02:09): He does. Sharon (02:11): So this last section of Jesus's famous sermon, underlines that obedience to the narrow way is right. And it gives some warnings about being sure we're on it. So Nicole, why don't you start us off and we'll read a Sweet Selah Moment together, reading God's word. Nicole (02:28): All right, Matthew seven, 13 through 28, the Narrow Gates. 'You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and it's gate is wide for many who choose that way. Sharon (02:41): But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult and only a few ever find it. Nicole (02:49): The tree and its fruit. 'Beware of false prophets who come to you as harmless sheep, but are really vicious wolves.' Sharon (02:57): 'You can identify them by their fruit. That is by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?' Nicole (03:05): 'A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit.' Sharon (03:08): 'A good tree can't produce bad fruit and...
