A Narrow Road of Caring

 A narrow road is a road that could be easy to wander off of. Have you ever tried to walk down a long narrow hallway with your eyes shut. The way our eyes adjust our path constantly is a really important piece of how we get from point A to point B. Whenever we start to wander in the slightest we can see the variance almost subconsciously and adjustments are made. 

In Matthew 7:13 Jesus is speaking and this whole thing is during the sermon on the mount and he says. 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. 

This statement follows right on the golden rule about treating others as you would have them treat you. This golden run has a pre-clause and  post-clause. The pre-clause is a therefore and I'll talk about that in a second. I'll do it third but in a second. The second clause which is a post-clause is a statement that says that this is the Law and the prophets. In other word, this is what God was teaching us to do. It does not break the law and does not go contrary to God's purposes. That would be enough. 

The pre-clause is a therefore and tells us why we do that. Why does it make perfect sense to treat others the way we want to be treated? It is because we can see that God will give us what is good when we ask Him. This we can see because we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our own children. 

The road then, which makes perfect sense and fulfills the law and the profits (thanks to Jesus) is to treat others as we would have them treat us AND with that to be VERY intentional and to put in significant effort to get it done. Because you belong to God, your situation is in His hand and because that is so you can walk a narrow road. There is an alternative that is proposed by many who do not trust God and frankly, if I did not trust God I would need to take matters in my own hands (which I would likely screw up quite often). You can work very diligently to treat others as you would like to be treated. You can be loving and kind. Even you can work very hard at it because you are safe. Safe in God's care is a good place to be. #reachingnewheightsinjesus

Is America losing the war on Terror?

Terrified There was a time when you could walk in your kids school, when signing in was requested. There was a time when you could volunteer simply by putting your name in a little book. If there is a war on terror then terror is the enemy. Here's the funny thing about being afraid. We say we are taking precautions so we don't have to be afraid when in actuality we are being driven by our fear to do the very things that will perpetuate that fear. Reacting to fear We hide. We run. We plan for ANY eventuality. We limit our liability and reduce our risk. We say we are doing all these things because it is the 'wise' thing to do but in reality we are doing them because we are afraid. We are afraid someone will find us or find us out. We are afraid someone will catch us or stop us from doing something we desire to do or find convenient. We sit and think what might happen and try to devise plans against the feared possibility rather than going out and doing something that will make a difference. Could it be that it is better for a person to die trying than it is for them to try dying? Sure it is. So, why do people insist on sitting around dwelling on, or to proactive enact such precautions that they lose some of who they are rather than to live taking the risk? Answer, Evil has proven itself as just what it claims to be. It has a sort of integrity about itself and a persistence. People will do that which will unsettle us and there are very real proponents of fear in the world. Buying stuff won't make you feel better. Fear sells. It sells anything that resembles safety. People pursue that ever-elusive feeling that you are perfectly okay and there is no one in the world that could change that. Oh, but it's a lie. One way There is only way to have that kind of safety. It is to invest in something untouchable. Jesus called it storing up treasure for ourselves in heaven. I have seen those who know that they are doing just that live as if they are not afraid. I now find myself wondering whether those enemies who hate Christianity, in their blatant attempt to generate fear in the world might not drive people into the hands of God. I suppose it would be more likely if the people of God were less about preparing for every potential bad outcome and more about sticking their neck out for Jesus. Sorry, bad guy. You can't touch anything that will affect me lasting. If you hurt my people I will mourn but not as the world mourns. If you kill me you will inadvertently give me everything I have worked for. In the mean time, I will live unafraid, out on a limb, taking only those precautions afforded me by scripture and safe and free. Are we losing? Are we losing? Have we already lost? Well, when people can no longer be who they are because they are forced to change. The person they were has become a casualty of war. The United States of America that existed before 9/11, came looking for answers after 9/11, and found living for Christ too much work or too confusing, has continued on its merry way, changing almost everything at whatever level the war on terror can penetrate the thoughts and plans of men. Free and brave C'mon, let's show them this is still America the land of the free and the brave. Stop enacting policies that overdo a pursuit of reduced liability. Stop being so careful that you hardly have an opportunity to talk to a stranger any more. Slow down a little and pay attention to what's going on around you- truth is you'll be safer that way. But, don't do it out of fear. Do it out of a concern for your fellow mankind. Then, do the most important thing of all. Let God decide the outcome of tomorrow. Trust Him. He's earned it. Pastor Daniel Stevenson newheightsfellowwshipchurch.org facebook.com/newheightstoledo facebook.com/lifestationtoledo Fogandmoon.com Think Again: Finding Happiness... https://www.createspace.com/4057159 How To Be a Great GM: Role Playing... https://www.createspace.com/3713325 Aubrey’s Run: Adventures... https://www.createspace.com/4009703

Trading your birthright

Many think being Holy (different from the world's standards and more Godly in your actions) is a task to be done or a "real challenge" but no, that's not what God says.




Indeed, according to Isaiah 35, the Highway of holiness is a birthright of Children of God. If you are a Christian, a follower of God, a member of God's family through Jesus Christ, God's Son then you have this birth right. You were born again (John 3:3) and were started on the Highway of Holiness. You were given this path as a birthright and it comes with a blessing at the end and protection/provision along the way.



But first, wy don't some who claim to have Christ seem to have the birthright of the Highway of Holiness? I'm not just making htis stuff up-read Isaiah 35 adn then read Genesis 25 where Esau trade his birthright for a bowl of soup. The bottom line is many trade their birthright for a moment's gratification or a bit of comfort. Easu wasn't really going to die right that instant and he could have eaten something else, perhaps something somewhat less to his liking and been fine. But, he said, in all the drama akin to mankind in general, If I don't get me some of that soup I'll surely die and then what good will the birthright be.



You can go without whatever the enemy tells you or even pursuades by life circumstance that you think you simply MUST have to survive. Even the essentials are often not as essential as we make them out to be. That being said, the man did what men are prone to do. He traded his birthright for a bowl of soup, some instant gratification and a bit of comfort-so he could FEEL alright.



People are still doing it today. That's why, even though Isaiah says we are safe on the Highway of holiness-Lions and dragons can not tread thereupon, we tend to stray off of the Highway of holiness and tary with those cute little distractions that suddenly become so important to us that we convince ourselves we can always "get back on" or that we simply MUST have that thing, or that situation in our lives, or that moment of FEELing okay.



I don't need that. You don't need that. God has given us what we need, our birthright and it ends in a great blessing. However, afterward when Esau went in to his father seeking the blessing there was no blessing even though he sought the blessing with tears and repentance (Read Hebrews 12.)



So, as Isaiah would say-Strengthen your weak hands (get busy serving God, stay busy serving God) and steady your feeble knees (Don't be afraid of or misdirected by or attracted to what lies off the path. This Highway of Holiness is your birthright if you are a child of God. You can do it!



The enemy can not touch you if you stay on the highway. But if you reach out to him or step off the brim he may get hold of you and repentance which is easy on the highway becomes difficult when you are off of it.



One last thing, God allows this to be so because in time there will be a great destruction of all that lies off of the highway. He does this so that the difference may be clearly seen between that which is of God and for God and that which is not.



Get where you belong, get on the highway of holiness and serve God without fear. You can. You were made for this.

Pastor Dan Stevenson Pastor New Heights Fellowship www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org afamilyofgod@bex.net Director Life Station NWOBA overcomingevil@bex.net     New heights urban church planting initiative in Toledo Ohio