With a Thankful Heart  

(our theme for November)

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

We often hear about staying on the “straight and narrow road” that leads to eternal life. In C.S. Lewis’ book “The Last Battle” (the last book in the Chronicles of Narnia series), if my memory is correct, the lion Aslan, who represents Christ, becomes the leader of people from all over Narnia.  They unite together as they proceed toward the final goal. This started me thinking about the way of life, or the road, that leads to eternal life.

I began to picture a multilane highway with many signs along the sides and exits and entrances. The different lanes were occupied by people that looked different from me, were moving at different speeds, and of different traditions, but all trying their best to follow the example of Jesus. The signs along the side of the highway advertised things that looked inviting and enticing, and each exit would lead to a multitude of these distractions. However, every exit also had an entrance ramp by which one could get back on the highway.

We don’t think of highways as being narrow but in the scheme of all the different directions available to us, they are not wide. There are many people around us that look different, talk differently, act differently, and worship differently but like us (on our best days) they, too, are trying to live life as Jesus taught. Rather than trying to cut them off or scream at them for being in the “wrong” lane, shouldn’t we be looking to them for mutual support as we travel along this highway that leads us all to the destination that we desire?

Prayer:

God help me this day to see others as you see them and treat them as Jesus would. So that we can support each other as we strive to be the people that you created us to be.

Today’s devotional was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Ryan Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. 

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.