Luke 13-E “My Narrow Door"

S = 13-23-25 “And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”

O = Jesus didn’t answer their question, “Will those who are saved be few?” (v.23) directly. Instead, he encouraged them to actively respond to his invitation by entering through the narrow door. The context suggests that the invitation is not limited in scope (v.29), but only in the time allowed for response…before the master closes the door. Compared to the breadth of eternity, my few years on this earth are a narrow door indeed!

A = Do I see the kingdom of God as being for the few or the many? For the now or the later? As real or imaginary? As impersonal or highly relational? My answers to these questions will shape my response towards God and towards other people in my daily life. If the King and his kingdom are important to me, then I will not wait a minute longer to enter, nor take my access to Jesus for granted. My life is a narrow door limited by the time laid out for me in advance. If I choose to not respond then he will not open the door once it is closed. As the saying goes, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”…it is not enough to have attended functions where Jesus was present, or to have been in the same town. I must be known by Jesus if I am to enter. How will I choose to spend time with Jesus this week? Obviously Jesus knows everything and everyone, but in this sense Jesus is speaking of relationship not cognitive awareness.

P = O Lord, I thank you for your grace that opens the door to my salvation and your love that sets the table for your wedding banquet, and for your Spirit who sends your invitation to me and leads me, even compels me to respond today! How could I not? Amen.