Monday, June 13, 2016

Two Roads

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Matthew 7

So much of Jesus' teaching seems counterintuitive to us requiring us to exercise faith to even accept them or practice them. What is it that keeps us from accepting His teaching? Is it unbelief? Certainly, but primarily, it is pride. Pride in our own reasoning over Jesus' teaching. Jesus says, "Do this and you will have life." But it doesn't make sense to me so I reject it. Although the Son of God, Creator of all that is, has said this is the road to life, we trust our own reasoning over His. That's pride.

In what is known as the "Sermon On The Mount," found in Matthew chapters 5-7, chapter 7 records Jesus' teaching about the road to life being a road of self-denial, saying, "whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them." In other words, telling us that if we live a lifestyle of doing for others we will find that they will also do for us. We reason that if we want something we should go for it trying to get it from others and even demanding it if necessary. But Jesus tells us that this has only short-term benefits. It eventually turns on us and brings destruction.

Instead, Jesus says, if you want something from others, do it for them first. Though this may not bring an immediate result, in time when people are convinced we are genuine, they will begin to reciprocate. And we do have to be genuine in this, not doing for others simply to get something in return. Compared to the practice of being self-serving, self-denial is like a narrow gate through which few pass. Not many are interested in self-denial while the road of self-service is broad and many take this road.

The outcome of the two pathways is very different, and opposite to what we might think. Jesus taught that the broad road of self-service leads to destruction while the narrow gate of self-denial leads to life. Unfortunately, few discover this truth, convinced that the broad road of doing what I want and getting what I want is really living.

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