April 20th, 21

"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you." This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. That's from verse 12. The essence of all that is taught--yet, only a few seem to find it, and only one truly lived it. He is the door through which we must pass in order for that kind of life to be possible for us. Verse 14, "the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."

Unless we die to our own efforts, and come to Jesus for that live, we will miss the kingdom entirely. The road is difficult, because it requires us to die to our own selfish way of life. That's why if you ever find it, he is the gate into that kingdom life. Living a life where we are doing unto others, what we would like them to do to us is the work of God in our life. It's the gospel, the Spirit of Christ, transforming our very character. And that is a gift from God. It's not something earned or strived for or sweated out to obtain. As children, we are to trust our good Father, he won't give us a snake if we ask for a fish. He knows how to give good gifts that get to the essence of our very life. He's good. He gives good gifts to his children. In light of how good he is. We seek, we knock we pursue with all our heart. We participate with his good life, and we experience his heart. And then good fruit happens. It just does. Because that's what good trees do. We are able to live the way that we were intended to live. So may God opened our eyes by His Spirit, to reveal to us the very essence of who we are. We are alive in him. We are his children. Our life is found in him. He is our father and his life in US will bear good fruit. Let's live with eyes open to what our good father has done for us in Christ. And let us rejoice in who we have become in him. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so

You are loved!