![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/jw-logo.png"){kind=logo}
Leg 3 Day 38
“The Gateway to the Kingdom”
Jesus Through Us
Scripture:
LUKE 13:22-30
LUKE 13:22-30 (The Message)
He went on teaching from town to village, village to town, but keeping on a steady course toward Jerusalem.
A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”
He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’”
“You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’”
“That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.”
Life Lessons from Jesus:
Once again, hanging out with Christians, being best friends with one, following a close set of adopted Church rules, restricting yourself to only “Christian culture,” and doing Church-related events don’t make you a Christian. It’s like watching through a window at people working inside. You’re close, you’re almost there… but you’re a spectator. Even if you took a walk through the workplace, you’d still just be observing. You’re not actually doing the work even though you might feel involved. And that’s exactly what will happen if you don’t do the work: you’ll be watching from the outside. And wishing you’d put in the effort.
The phrase “work hard” is used in other translations and comes from a New Testament word that means “make an endeavor” or “strive hard to receive something.” Some people are simply not concerned enough to strive for this. While no one can work hard enough to earn their salvation, Jesus is emphasizing the effort needed to seek after God, to change our hearts to be like Him. The commitment we must have, even if we wander and return over and over. He also points out that once the door of opportunity closes, it will be too late. We can’t keep waiting and watching and expect a warm welcome when the time comes if we never bother to get to know God for ourselves.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
Are you watching from the outside or are you genuinely and actively getting to know God on a personal level?
What do you find prevents you from seeking God more?
The Bible clearly teaches that we are not saved by works. What is the balance then between what God has done for you and what work you have to put into your walk with Him?
Prayer:
God, please give me the endurance to keep striving after You, even when it’s hard. Please help me to be an encouragement to others who are unsure—a source of hope, understanding, and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.