2:146 – The Easy Way

#faithbites #faithjourney easy

Yesterday, I was enjoying the weather with my niece and my girls. We walked to the park. I thought it wasn’t that far of a walk but my kids complained. They said I should have driven them. My eldest said Dad, it’s much easier. While it may have been easy, it’s not as much fun. We got to see the town. On the way back, my youngest refused to walk, so I had her on my shoulders. Again my eldest said it would have been easier to drive. But then we wouldn’t have bonded for as long, sung songs, and told stories.

There is something to be said for easy and convinient to, but often what is easy isn’t right or worth as much.

Scripture

• being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6
• “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14

Reflection

God is clear that we are his masterpiece or workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Imagine if God took shortcuts with you? As we see in Philippians, God started a good work in you and will see it until the days of Christ. We are part of that and need to continue the hard work of flowing the Lord.

Likewise, in Matthew, we the two gates. The wide easy gate and the narrow hard gate. The easy way leads to destruction while the hard way leads to life everlasting.

Knowing what is the easy way and what is the hard way is sometimes difficult. It’s not as simple as walking in one door over the other. Our own desires, temptations, and our limitations make it hard.

My daughter didn’t want to walk because she didn’t see the value in it. The exercise, the extra bonding, and just enjoying God’s creation wasn’t enough. Afterwards, while they were tired, the enjoyed the time at the park.

God’s word is clear, are we understanding it?

Charge

Our charge today is to look at the options before us. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. While having things to make life easier isn’t bad, we need to make sure we are infesting our time and energy into those meaningful pursuits.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for all things. You give us so many gifts to out towards all the tasks in our day. Help is to avoid temptations and the so called easy road. We pray for strength and skill to navigate all the challenges in life. We know we will succeed because we do them with you always. In your name, Amen.