7:13, 14 Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance to God’s kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true salvation in God’s way that leads to life eternal. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness, with no single way (cf. Ac 4:12), but it leads to hell, not heaven. † 7:14 way is narrow. Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following Him (10:38; 16:24, 25; Jn 15:18, 19; 16:1–3; cf. Ac 14:22). Salvation is by grace alone, but is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey His will and Word. See notes on 19:16–28. † 7:15 false prophets. These deceive not by disguising themselves as sheep, but by impersonating true shepherds. They promote the wide gate and the wide way. sheep’s clothing. This may refer to the woolen attire that was the characteristic garb of a shepherd. † 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. See note on 3:8. False doctrine cannot restrain the flesh, so false prophets manifest wickedness. Cf. 2Pe 2:12–22. † 7:21 Not everyone who says … but he who does. The barrenness of this sort of faith demonstrates its real character (cf. v. 20)—the faith that says but does not do is really unbelief. Jesus was not suggesting that works are meritorious for salvation, but that true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works. This is precisely the point of Jas 1:22–25; 2:26.
Discipleship is great, but Paul encourages the Philippians to take ownership of their own walk with Jesus, even when Paul is not there. When we take ownership, we are walking with Jesus and his Spirit and then, we are to do the same as Paul, by walking with others, and pointing them to Jesus, that they would do the same. That way, we are participating in building Gods kingdom, here on earth. Is that not a beautiful way to see what gods will is in our life?
The Battle belongs to the Lord
A Psalm of David.
3–5 This was the Lord’s appeal. With tenderness and emotion, the divine Plaintiff recalled His many gracious acts toward them, almost to the point of assuming the tone of a defendant. Noting their trek from bondage in Egypt to their own homeland, God had provided leadership (v. 4), reversed the attempts of Balaam to curse the people (v. 5a; cf. Nu 22–24), and miraculously parted the Jordan River (v. 5b) so they could cross over from Shittim, located E of the Jordan, to Gilgal on the W side near Jericho. God had faithfully kept all His promises to them. † 6:6, 7 Micah, as though speaking on behalf of the people, asked rhetorically how, in light of God’s faithfulness toward them, they could continue their hypocrisy by being outwardly religious but inwardly sinful. † 6:8 Micah’s terse response ( v. 8) indicated they should have known the answer to the rhetorical question. Spiritual blindness had led them to offer everything except the one thing He wanted—a spiritual commitment of the heart from which right behavior would ensue (cf. Dt 10:12–19; Mt 22:37–39). This theme is often represented in the OT (cf. 1Sa 15:22; Is 1:11–20; Jer 7:21–23; Hos 6:6; Am 5:15).
As we approach this beautiful season we call Autumn of Fall, may we approach this changing of the season, with a heart ❤️ of Joy and Thanksgiving, (In spite of our circumstances). Every day is a gift from God, whether you know it or not. Take the time, to remember, all the things that God has blessed you with, and not the circumstance you find yourself in. Whether you know God or not, take the time in a quiet place and seek him out. Ask him to reveal himself to you in a personal way. He love us, in spite of ourselves. He care so much, that HE created us in his own image. He gave his only son, to take our place before him, that we might stand before him, without blemish. Is that not reason to rejoice, I ask you. If you can take the time, in your stillness, take a moment and listen to the song below of Gratitude, by Brandon Lake, but more importantly, reflect on his Word, from the Psalm 100. I this will be a blessing it is for you, as much as it is to me.
Thanks for your time.
Alan
God Bless You and Your Family
ALL men & women are encouraged to Praise God!
Living Waters 