“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 that gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The wide gate is not marked, “This way to hell.”

If the wide gate were marked that way, who would take that road? “Yeah. I think I would like to completely destroy my marriage, my family, and my life. That sounds like a great plan. I want what that gate provides.” Who does that?

So, the devil marks the wide gate with the sign, “This way to life,” just as the sign above the narrow gate. The devil promises happiness, pleasure, success, and everything else needed for life. And, at first, those who enter through the wide gate and travel down its path experience momentary happiness, pleasure, success. If it didn’t, who would stay on that road.

What the traveler on the wide road doesn’t know that its ultimate destination is destruction and hell.

No one gets up in the morning and says, “Boy, let’s royally mess up my life today by having an affair.” But many do. How?

They choose what is easy. Instead of working on marriage, communication, and staying faithful, they choose what is easy. Instead of staying on the road of faithfulness and obedience to God’s word and God’s plan, we choose what is convenient. Instead of listening to God we listen to our hearts.

Friends, there is only one gate that leads to the road to life. That gate is the way of Jesus. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. There is no other way to live than to live life according to the ways of Jesus. You discover how to live the way of Jesus by reading and studying his word.

Stay on the path. When you deviate, get back on the road. When you get lost, return to Jesus.

“He is not here. He is risen” (Luke 24:6).

What happened to the twelve disciples of Jesus after the resurrection?

In AD 44, King Herod ordered that James the Greater be thrust through with a sword. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred.

And so the bloodbath began.

• Luke was hung by the neck from an olive tree in Greece.
• Doubting Thomas was pierced with a pine spear, tortured with red-hot plates, and burned alive in India.
• In AD 54, the proconsul of Hierapolis had Philip tortured and crucified because his wife converted to Christianity while listening to Philip preach. Philip continued to preach while on the cross.
• Matthew was stabbed in the back in Ethiopia.
• Bartholomew was flogged to death in Armenia.
• James the Just was thrown off the southeast pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. After surviving the one-hundred-foot fall, he was clubbed to death by a mob.
• Simon the Zealot was crucified by a governor of Syrian in AD 74.
• Judas Thaddeus was beaten to death with sticks in Mesopotamia.
• Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot, was stoned to death and then beheaded.
• And Peter was crucified upside down at his own request. J
• John the Beloved is the only disciple to die of natural causes, but that’s only because he survived his own execution. When a cauldron of boiling oil could not kill John, Emperor Diocletian exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he lived until his death in AD 95.

Every single one died for their faith in the crucified and the risen Christ.

Compare that to what happened at Watergate. Charles Colson writes:

I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured it if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world – and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

I love this verse! This is one of my absolute favorites in the Bible. I wouldn’t be surprised if it weren’t one of your favorites.

But, this is also one of the verses that are most taken out of context.

The truth contained in this passage has nothing to do with:

• Sports and winning
• Lifting heavier weights
• Running faster
• Accomplishing personal dreams
• Overcoming low self-esteem

Look at the context: “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12).

You know what Paul is talking about? He’s talking about being content and joyful because of all that Christ has done, regardless of the circumstances he is facing. Paul is talking about how to live the life of faith with joy even in the midst of adversity and hardship. This has to do living faithfully and joyfully in the midst of suffering and persecution.

Do you know where Paul wrote Philippians? He wrote Philippians while in Prison in Rome.

That’s the context.

I love this verse. It’s one of my favorites. I pray that I too can live a life of joy and faith in all circumstances.