God’s Word – Freedom, Comfort in Afflictions and Companionship on the Narrow Road that Leads to Life
I will be commenting on these twenty-four verses in a thematic way rather than verse by verse. The theme is the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14) and the freedom, comfort, and companionship God’s Word gives us as we walk the narrow road of life versus the broad road that leads to destruction. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell (destruction) is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life (zōē – the God life) is very narrow and the road is difficult (death to self-life), and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)
1) Freedom – The Law of Liberty – “So I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.” (Vv. 44-45) Contrary to the world’s way of thinking, true freedom is found in obedience to God’s Word. It is the power to what is right versus the freedom to do whatever we want. James, Jesus’ half-brother, called God’s Word “the law of liberty” – which sounds contradictory to the natural man who thinks autonomy (self-government versus God’s rule) is freedom. “But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).” (James 1:25) But listen to what Jesus (“the Word made flesh”) and God’s Word says about freedom and bondage: “So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) “They (false teachers) promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” (2 Peter 2:19) Paul reminds us in Romans 6:15-22 that as born-again believers in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin (under its control) that leads to death but servants of God (under His control/rule) which leads to life as we submit to His Word and Spirit. (Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:18-21)
2) Comfort in Affliction – – “Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me. The arrogant utterly deride me, yet I do not turn aside from Your law. I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O Lord, and comfort myself. Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.” (Vv. 49-54) David seems to be saying,” O Lord Your Word says much about Your comforts and Your call to hope in You; so I remind You Lord of Your promises to comfort me as I walk as a pilgrim amidst people who hate You and therefore hate me.” Back to our theme of the narrow road of life: 14 “But the gateway to life (zōē – the God life) is very narrow and the road is difficult (death to self-life), and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) There are many promises of God’s comfort in Scripture but none comfort us more than that which is our ultimate hope – being with our Lord face to face in the eternal bliss of heaven: “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13) [“The land of the living. Alas! what a land of the living is this, in which there are more dead than living, more under ground than above it; where the earth is fuller of graves than houses; where life lies trembling under the hand of death; and where death hath power to tyrannize over life! No, my soul, there only is the land of the living where there are none but the living; where there is a church, not militant, but triumphant; a church indeed, but no churchyard, because none dead, nor none that can die; where life is not passive, nor death active; where life sits crowned, and where death is swallowed up in victory.” Sir Richard Baker.] Our Lord tells us to rejoice now (in this life) and that we are blessed when we suffer for His sake and purposes, and for His righteousness. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you (here and now) when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad (now), because great is your reward in heaven (future), for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12) “Bread corn is bruised.” (Isaiah 28:28) [“Many of us cannot be used to become food for the world’s hunger until we are broken in Christ’s hands. Christ’s blessing ofttimes means sorrow, but even sorrow is not too great a price to pay for the privilege of touching other lives with benediction. The sweetest things in this world today have come to us through tears and pain.” –J. R. Miller. http://streamsinthedesert.nicheblogger.net/2012/06/19/streams-in-the-desertjune-19] Our greatest joy and comfort comes from pleasing our Lord even when those on the broad road of destruction “utterly deride us” for obeying God’s Word.
3) Companionship – “I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. (to walk the narrow road of life). I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your law. (Beware of wrong companions; see Psalm 1:1) I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. (Vv. 59-61, 63) “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Prov. 13:20) The word, “companion” comes from the Latin words com (with) and panis (bread) and means one with whom we share bread or a close friend. As we walk the narrow road of life we must be careful with whom we walk. In Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan he showed us Christian’s true companions, Faithful and Hopeful, and yet spoke of many worldly people whom Christian may have wrongly befriended: Obstinate – A neighbor of Christian’s in the City of Destruction who refuses to accompany him. Pliable – A neighbor of Christian’s who accompanies him for a while. After falling in the Slough of Despond, Pliable is discouraged and returns home, only to be mocked by the townsfolk. Worldly Wiseman – A reasonable and practical man whom Christian encounters early in his journey. Worldly Wiseman tries unsuccessfully to urge Christian to give up his religious foolishness and live a contented secular life. Formalist – A traveler whom Christian meets along the wall of Salvation. With his companion Hypocrisy, Formalist sneaks over the wall, instead of following the strait and narrow as Christian did. Hypocrisy – Formalist’s travel companion. Talkative – Fellow pilgrim who travels alongside Christian and Faithful for a while. Talkative is spurned by Christian for valuing spiritual words over religious deeds. Mr. By-ends – A user of religion for personal ends and social profit. Mr. By-ends accompanies Christian briefly after Christian escapes from Vanity. Demas – Gentlemanly figure who tries to entice Christian and Hopeful with silver and dreams of wealth. Temporary – A would-be pilgrim whom Christian speaks of in a cautionary way, warning of Temporary’s backsliding before his spiritual progress was complete. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim’s_Progress
I spoke of the need for godly companions in my June 2003 Newsletter: [“We all need a Paul (mentor), a Barnabas (friend) and a Timothy (disciple) in our life. Spiritual growth comes from both receiving and giving the life of God from and to others in in-depth, honest and accountable relationships. Without these relationships our growth is stunted and our salt and light influence on our families, workplace and society is minimized or lost. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16) Let me encourage you to pray, as I do, for God to connect you with those who love and fear the Lord as seen in the psalmist’s prayers: “I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.” (Psalm 119:63, 74, 79) Pray for a mentor to teach you, a friend to walk with, and disciple to serve, and experience the growth in Christlikeness that He wants you to have for His glory. “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18) “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) http://www.kenboa.org/text_resources/teaching_letters/lens_monthly_teaching_letter/2230
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
1. What is your main take away from the message and how can you apply it to your life?
2. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell (destruction) is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life (zōē – the God life) is very narrow and the road is difficult (death to self-life), and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Of the three blessings discussed in these verses/message from Psalm 119 which do you feel you need most today and why?
3. Freedom – The Law of Liberty – “So I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.” (Vv. 44-45) What is the world’s understanding of freedom? Share an area of your life where God has set you free by His Word. Ask for prayer in an area of your walk where you want more freedom and victory through God’s Word.
4. Comfort in Affliction – – “Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you (here and now) when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad (now), because great is your reward in heaven (future), for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12) Our greatest joy and comfort comes from pleasing our Lord even when those on the broad road of destruction “utterly deride us” for obeying God’s Word. Discuss how the joy of pleasing the Lord now in this life, for the ultimate reward of His Well Done and eternal rewards in heaven, brings you comfort in trials. What does it mean to be “bread corn” for others?
5. Companionship – “I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. (to walk the narrow road of life). I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your law. (Beware of wrong companions; see Psalm 1:1) I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.” “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Prov. 13:20) From Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, do you have some close friends with you on your journey on the narrow road of life like Faithful and Hopeful who love God and obey His Word? Which of the bad characters have you encountered?
6. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) How have others encouraged you in your walk with the Lord and who is God calling you to encourage? “Consider” how you can do that and share it at your table.