Convenience
Part 2 of the "Seven Sins of Suburbia" Series
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “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. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. – Matthew 7:12-14 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
Choosing the path of life means we must be willing to relinquish the default to convenience; loving Jesus and loving our neighbor will constantly require that we go the extra mile. Jesus calls His followers of action, even when the journey is hard.
Everything in life involves choices.
Jesus tells us about two gates in the “Sermon on the Mount” – the narrow and the wide.
Moses offered a similar choice to the Israelites during the Exodus.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants. – Deuteronomy 30:19 (NASB)
Elijah offered the people of Israel a similar choice atop Mount Carmel.
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. – I Kings 18:21 (NASB)
Jesus is not asking us to behave ourselves. Jesus is calling His followers to action!
The word for “straight” or “narrow” is more often translated in the original language as “distressed,” “persecuted,” or “troubled” in other places of the New Testament.
*See II Corinthians 1:6, I Thessalonians 3:4, and II Thessalonians 1:7.
A commitment to follow Jesus is not to be taken lightly because to live in close relationship with Jesus means choosing the harder (but better) way of living.
Too often we treat Jesus as more of an “acquaintance” than the transformative presence in our lives that He truly is.
In our pursuit of convenience, or easy, we have stopped seeking the best.
We are all creatures of convenience.
“Struggle is not always a problem. Sometimes struggle is a solution.” – Tim Wu
God calls us to love others and to walk this hard path of life because it forces us to rely on God.
Heeding the words of Christ and following His example is not optional for entry into the Kingdom of God.
If we choose life in Jesus, we must be willing to relinquish the default to convenience.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32 (NASB)
Life in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit allows us to acknowledge the hard, inconvenient, and downright awful things that we will encounter, yet still find God’s presence and enablement to continue down the narrow path.
Which path do you wish to take in this life? It is YOUR choice.
Questions for Reflection
In your opinion, what are some of the best modern conveniences for us in America?
Why is the “Golden Rule,” in all its simplicity, very hard to keep in reality?
Why does God ask us to choose the harder path? Do you ever wonder if it’s worth it?
What is an inconvenience in your life that God could use to grow our faith? How can we view it as more of an adventure than a hassle?
Will choosing life in Jesus be more advantageous in the long run as compared to the convenience of the short term?
The BIG Idea
Choosing the path of life means we must be willing to relinquish the default to convenience; loving Jesus and loving our neighbor will constantly require that we go the extra mile. Jesus calls His followers of action, even when the journey is hard.
Everything in life involves choices.
Jesus tells us about two gates in the “Sermon on the Mount” – the narrow and the wide.
Moses offered a similar choice to the Israelites during the Exodus.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants. – Deuteronomy 30:19 (NASB)
Elijah offered the people of Israel a similar choice atop Mount Carmel.
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him so much as a word. – I Kings 18:21 (NASB)
Jesus is not asking us to behave ourselves. Jesus is calling His followers to action!
The word for “straight” or “narrow” is more often translated in the original language as “distressed,” “persecuted,” or “troubled” in other places of the New Testament.
*See II Corinthians 1:6, I Thessalonians 3:4, and II Thessalonians 1:7.
A commitment to follow Jesus is not to be taken lightly because to live in close relationship with Jesus means choosing the harder (but better) way of living.
Too often we treat Jesus as more of an “acquaintance” than the transformative presence in our lives that He truly is.
In our pursuit of convenience, or easy, we have stopped seeking the best.
We are all creatures of convenience.
“Struggle is not always a problem. Sometimes struggle is a solution.” – Tim Wu
God calls us to love others and to walk this hard path of life because it forces us to rely on God.
Heeding the words of Christ and following His example is not optional for entry into the Kingdom of God.
If we choose life in Jesus, we must be willing to relinquish the default to convenience.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32 (NASB)
Life in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit allows us to acknowledge the hard, inconvenient, and downright awful things that we will encounter, yet still find God’s presence and enablement to continue down the narrow path.
Which path do you wish to take in this life? It is YOUR choice.
Questions for Reflection
In your opinion, what are some of the best modern conveniences for us in America?
Why is the “Golden Rule,” in all its simplicity, very hard to keep in reality?
Why does God ask us to choose the harder path? Do you ever wonder if it’s worth it?
What is an inconvenience in your life that God could use to grow our faith? How can we view it as more of an adventure than a hassle?
Will choosing life in Jesus be more advantageous in the long run as compared to the convenience of the short term?