14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The Christian life is very difficult to live out as the Bible directs, but the fact that it is difficult does not allow the true believer to give up or give in, rather it somehow fuels our desire to finish the race well. This is because of the deep understanding and appreciation of the cost to Jesus Christ to secure our salvation. When we finally, based on trusting in the redemption He has provided, begin to do what He commands and requires, we discover that we, indeed, can do it! God is not cruel, and does not ‘toy’ with us. He would never tell us to do something we could not do! His commands are a matter of “Trust and Obey.” Thank God, He gives us difficult things to do! The doing proves our love!
23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (James 1:23-24)
Sadly, the church today is replete with Christians who seem to satisfy their “hunger” for the Word by simply “hearing” the Word, but never “doing” or applying what they have heard. God speaks to us, in and through, everything in life that touches us; but, are we hearing what He says? What must a serious disciple do to remedy this habit in their Christian walk?
Allow me to bring in a few Scriptures relevant to this topic of question and make some observation and comment:
- 24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)
Jesus gives three clear steps to discipleship here: “deny self” “take up your cross” and “follow Him“! It is my experience, if I will deny self, the rest comes with much less struggle. One definition of denying self, or dying to self, as Paul states it, has been a constant challenge to me. I list it as follows:
“The man who has died to self, has no ambitions, and has nothing to be jealous about. He has no reputation, and so has nothing to fight about. He has no possessions, and therefore, nothing to worry about. He has no rights, so therefore he cannot suffer wrongs. He is already dead, so no one can kill him.” (Unknown)
For the Christian, denying self, or as Paul would say, dying to self, is the key to walking the narrow way of being both a hearer and a doer of God’s Word.!
The bottom line to being a “doer“ of the Word has to be purposed obedience. It is a choice to do whatever my LORD expects of me. When I truly love Jesus, it does not cost me to obey Him, it has become my delight to please Him. However, it may cost others when I obey Him. Regardless, my choice has to be obedience, trusting Him with all affects. Get into the habit of asking, “LORD, what would You have me to do?” Then, no matter how disagreeable something may be to you, your heart and soul must say, “LORD, it thrills me to do this for You!”
We must not debate an issue, which He has placed before us, in either the Word, in prayer, or other actions of life. When we debate a matter requiring obedience, we grieve the Holy Spirit. If we allow other things to take first place in our considerations we become confused, which may lead to disobedience. What makes this sometimes a frustration in the beginnings of serious thought toward the obedient life is the fact that our LORD never forces our obedience; He will not make us do what He wants. Sometimes we might wish He would, but He leaves it to be settled in our spirit, where we will find oneness with His Spirit. If my relationship with Him is one of love, I will immediately do what He desires of me. He must be our goal!
The sure way to dishonor Jesus is by not obeying Him!
Now, the details of how we become ‘hears and doers’ of the Word:
- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)
No one will ever be a doer of the Word if He has not studied the Word! That means to read it, for sure, but even more so, he eats the Word . . . he devours the Word, he digests the Word . . . he takes the Word into his very being, as the Spirit Author feeds him. We must become continuous students of the Word, allowing the Spirit to tutor us.
The Spirit of God cannot tutor us unless we give ourselves wholly to prayer. Prayer is the process of growing love, a love for God, and a love for all others.
“Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) The following is a question I am asking myself and other believers: “How many hours a day do you spend in prayer?” The right answer: “One hour less than you should!”
It comes down to the willingness to commit to God, His Word, and to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus through prayer. That is the beginning, the middle, and the ending of the earthly life you are seeking. God bless you journey.