The Narrow Roads

I was listening to the song from Chris Tomlin, “Is He Worthy”, last week. If you have never heard it, I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to it. We are in Holy Week right now and Good Friday is tomorrow. Growing up, we went to mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Service either Saturday or Sunday. I grew up Catholic, and that week my parents made sure we were in church for each service. There are two services each year that made me cry growing up and still do, Christmas Eve mass and Good Friday mass. Even as a young child, I knew the importance of what Jesus did. I may not have fully understood it, but God moved in my heart as a young child in those services. I no longer go to the Catholic church, but I am still in church every week, serving in the church, as well as teaching in the church. Growing up Catholic is how I came to know Jesus.

This past month, I wanted to dive into the word a little deeper and grow closer to God. I took communion during the week, took more time to read each chapter in my bible study, and I worked on going to God first when life got stressful. As I was listening to the song, “Is He Worthy”, all I could think, no one is more worthy than Jesus. He took my place on that cross. I belonged up there. I was supposed to be the one beaten and whipped for my sins. I was the one they should have spit on and mocked. I was the one who should have gotten the nails hammered through my feet and hands. It should have been my blood, not Jesus’, but it wasn’t. Jesus willingly hung on that cross for me and for you too. He had you and me in mind as he took those beatings.

For the last two years we have been studying the Sermon on the Mount. I have been team teaching with some other ladies. I never knew there was so much in that sermon that I didn’t know or realize and I have read it many times. Jesus was very clear on the road to heaven. He was very clear that he was God’s son and that his mission was to save us from spending our eternity in hell. We will spend eternity somewhere, but without Jesus, we don’t get to spend our eternity in heaven. He was clear that heaven is real and that hell is real as well. He was clear about the fact that the gate to heaven is narrow and very few will choose it. Teaching this series has humbled me and challenged my heart and exposed my sins.

There is a misconception that, Jesus came to bring peace on earth. Luke 12:51 says, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Jesus’ message divides family, it divides friends, it divides nations, because some will believe it and some will throw it away. His message is very divisive, because God’s word is very clear on what is sin and what is righteousness. We live in a world where evil is called good and good is called evil, and some don’t want to give up those evils. We live in a world that praises sins and mocks Jesus. We live in a world that worships idols and not our Lord and Savior.

This week, I sinned and it tore me up. I repented when I realized I was living for the world and that I took the cross for granted. I realized that I lived out of my flesh and not for God. After repenting 50 times (which you don’t have to do), I took communion again and laid that sin down. There was a peace that came over me that I didn’t deserve. So, you ask, is He worthy? Yes, He is! No one could have given me that peace, but Him. No one could have shown me grace, but Him. So as you celebrate this weekend and do Easter egg hunts, eat a meal with your family, don’t forget that He is worthy of praise, He is worthy of your time to remember His sacrifice. He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy. No one can do for you what Jesus can. No one would do for you what Jesus did. No one cares for you or loves you like Jesus does. I ask you to just take a little time to remember the pain he endured for you, the sacrifice he made for you and the love he has for you.

Thank you once again for your time and I pray you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Just remember, if you were the only one living, Jesus would have died for just you.

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.