The Gate Has A Name

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Corinthians 9:25

Bottom Line

Being a disciple of Jesus involves dedicated commitment to Jesus.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
Deuteronomy 30:15-18

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 1:6

This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Jeremiah 21:8

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun…but the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.
Proverbs 4:18-19

There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and great is the difference between these two ways
Didache 1:1-2

Jesus reframes The Two Ways Tradition by centering it on following him

The Two Ways Tradition

Way 1: The Way of Life: following Jesus and obeying his teachings

Way 2: The Way of Death: anything other than following Jesus & obeying his teachings

Step One: Enter the Narrow Gate

Enter through the narrow gate.
Matthew 7:13

The gate has a name

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.
John 10:9

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

Step Two: Proceed on the narrow path

"It is now understood to be part of the ‘good news’ that one does not have to be a life student of Jesus in order to be a Christian and receive forgiveness of sins."
— Dallas Willard

Action Steps

Practice

• Take Step One – Enter into relationship with Jesus
• Take Step Two – Continue along the path of discipleship with Jesus

Prayer

• If you’re not ready for step one, why not?  What’s getting in the way for you?
• If you have taken step one, how is your discipleship to Jesus going these days?
  
  • Is my character becoming more like the character of Jesus?
  • Am I embodying the fruit of the Spirit in my everyday life and interactions?
  • Am I actually practicing Jesus’ teachings in my life alongside others?