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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Devotional

  • Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    A narrow uphill trail in the woods - Is Christianity Too Narrow? What critics miss about the gospel.

    We hiked up the mountain through the forest. The trail wasn’t very wide, at places almost non-existent.  We had two choices: use the path or scramble up where there was no path. We chose the narrow path.

    Now, if you have been a Christian for any length of time, that phrase narrow way reminded you of a Bible passage (perhaps in whole, or maybe just the idea).

    Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Matthew 7:13

    In other places, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the only way is through faith in Him. There is no other plan.

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:3

    That has led to charges that Christianity itself is very narrow. Those charges have merit; there is only one way, and it doesn’t get any narrower than that. That’s God’s plan. He created everything, and He gets to make the rules. There is a narrow path.

    There are some things that the complainers don’t recognize.

    Firstly, without Jesus, there is no way to be forgiven and reconciled to God at all. He would have been perfectly righteous and just to allow everyone to perish in their sins. That’s fair punishment for rebellion against the king.

    Jesus didn’t have to come to redeem us. He chose to, and that is incredible love and unmerited grace.

    Secondly. While some may claim that the way of Christ is exclusive by its one-way nature, it’s also the least exclusive club in the world.

    The way of Christ is open to people of any age, from any culture, of either gender, from all socio-economic backgrounds, and at any level of sin. You don’t have to be religious enough, righteous enough or good enough. You don’t need lots of money or education to enter through the narrow path.

    You can’t earn your way in by good works. You can’t buy your way in. You can’t be born in. It has one requirement, faith in Christ, and even the worst among us have an opportunity to choose that.

    Christians are not people who have their act together. They are flawed people who are being transformed into the image of Christ. They will let you down. They may be hypocritical. They might look very much like Jesus. Then again, neither do you.

    The difference is that they responded to Christ by faith and were redeemed.

    Churches are messy places, but God will clean them up. The world outside the church is equally flawed, but without Christ, it will never get better.

    Narrow? Absolutely!

    Exclusive? Hardly!

    God calls, and we have a choice to make. Will we respond, take the narrow path, and follow Him ,or will we reject Him?

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    You might also like. “Enter through the narrow gate.”

    SUMMARY

    A narrow mountain trail becomes a vivid illustration of Jesus’ teaching about the narrow way to salvation — one path, one requirement, one Savior. Though Christianity is rightly called narrow, it is paradoxically the most inclusive invitation in the world.

    TAKEAWAY

    • The narrow way is real and intentional: Jesus is unambiguous that faith in Him is the only path to the Father, and God, as Creator, has the right to set that condition.
    • Narrow doesn’t mean exclusive: The way of Christ is open to every person regardless of age, background, culture, wealth, or depth of sin — the only requirement is faith.
    • Grace, not fairness, is the starting point: God owed humanity no rescue; that Jesus came to redeem us at all is an act of extraordinary love and unmerited grace.

    You might also like “The Gospel, the best news you will ever hear” and “The call you can’t ignore.”

  • Sinner and Saint – The Dual Nature of King David

    Sinner and Saint – The Dual Nature of King David

    Create in me a clean heart - a man washing his hands in a stream. Sinner and saint - we are both

    King David is often referred to as being a man after God’s own heart. Even the Bible says so in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22. If you know anything about David, that’s a remarkable statement. He was an incredible sinner and a stalwart saint. 

    David was a weak father, a murderer, an adulterer and more. I don’t imagine that there’s a sin he didn’t commit. He could be violent and ruthless, even one of his own sons turned and tried to kill him at one point. 

    If you had to make a list of Bible characters who acted the least like God, you would likely add David. David was a champion for God, but he was also a world-class sinner. 

    Yet at times, David, as both a boy and later a man, stood strongly for God against impossible odds. It was clear he loved the LORD and had faith.

    David the sinner understood that he was a sinner and made no excuses for it. He understood His sin was always against God. 

    David, the saint, knew his only hope was in God’s grace and mercy. 

    In Psalm 51, his cries to the Lord show his heart. He knew that there was no redemption apart from God. 

    Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and pure when You judge. Psalm 51:1-4 

    Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10-11 

    Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 

    If we are honest with ourselves, we are no less sinners than David. There may be things he did that we haven’t actually done, but we’ve harbored them in our hearts. That’s sin as well. 

    We need to stop making excuses. We would do well to throw ourselves on the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins that was bought by the blood and death of Jesus. 

    It would do us good to meditate on Psalm 51 and take it to heart. It would make an excellent model for a prayer of repentance.

    He loved us when we were still His enemies. He loves us now despite our rebellion. Although, because of the imputed righteousness of Christ, we are now reconciled.

    David had never heard the name of Jesus, but He knew God alone, by His mercy alone, could save Him. David understood his need for grace

    Praise God that He remains faithful and merciful despite our unfaithfulness.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    You might also enjoy

    “The Way of Wisdom”

    “The Best News You Will ever hear“

    Teach me your ways

    SUMMARY

    David was both a great sinner and a faithful servant of God, yet Scripture calls him a man after God’s own heart because he genuinely repented and depended completely on God’s mercy and grace. Psalm 51 reveals David’s broken and contrite heart, reminding believers that forgiveness and restoration come only through the mercy of God and ultimately through Jesus Christ.

    KEY POINTS

    David’s life shows that even those who deeply fail can find forgiveness through sincere repentance and faith in God.

    Psalm 51 serves as a powerful model of confession, humility, and dependence on God’s cleansing grace.

    Believers should stop excusing sin and instead rest in the mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness provided by Christ.