Walking the
“The wide and easy way that leads to destruction is precisely what Jesus has been describing all along as living with merely external righteousness, while the narrow and ‘difficult’ way is the vision he has cast for righteousness that is more and deeper than behavior. The broad and easy way is the way of the Pharisees, whose righteousness is easily definable and can be gritted out solely at the external level – not committing adultery, not murdering and so on. The narrow and difficult way is Jesus’ vision, a righteousness that requires deep roots and the exposure of one’s whole person to God, true virtue.” –Jonathan Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing.
“God has given us two great forces to help us stay clear of the ditches that would entrap us on either side of the narrow road. The first ditch is legalism, and the second one is lawlessness … The Word is our plumb line of truth, and the Spirit is our guide, strength, and power source.” –John Bevere
“What must be emphasized in all of this is the difference between trusting Christ, the real person Jesus, with all that that naturally involves, versus trusting some arrangement for sin-remission set up through him—trusting only his role as guilt remover.” –Dallas Willard, Divine Conspiracy
Isaiah 30:20-21 CSB
The Lord will give you meager bread and water during oppression, but your Teacher will not hide any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: ‘This is the way. Walk in it.
Question for Reflection:
Does this season feel more like a “solo” or a “together” journey? What are some practices to help walk with the Teacher?
The Roads
Proverbs 2:7-9, 20-21 CSB
He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice and integrity – every good path… So follow the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it
It is plain, I say, that it is we … who most foolishly forsake the royal road paved with the fine pebbles of apostles and prophets, and trodden down by the footsteps of all the saints and of the Lord himself, and seek trackless and thorny places. Blinded by the allurements of present delights, we make our way with wounded feet and our wedding garment rent, through dark paths, overrun with the briars of sins, so as not only to be pierced by the sharp thorns of the brambles but actually laid low by the bites of deadly serpents and scorpions lurking there.” –John Cassian, Desert Father
Tending the
John 15:1-4 CSB
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
“Beginners must realize that in order to give delight to the Lord they are starting to cultivate a garden on very barren soil, full of abominable weeds. His Majesty pulls up the weeds and plants good seed. And with the help of God we must strive like good gardeners to get these plants to grow and take pains to water them so they don’t wither but come to bud and flower and give forth a most pleasant fragrance to provide refreshment for this Lord of ours. Then He will often come to take delight in this garden and find His joy among these virtues” –Teresa of Avila
“The issue, so far as the gospel in the Gospels is concerned, is whether we are alive to God or dead to him. Do we walk in an interactive relationship with him that constitutes a new kind of life, life from above” –Dallas Willard, Divine Conspiracy
Question for Reflection:
What are practical ways to walk with the Teacher and share fruit in this season?
Ex.:
1. Sign up to serve
2. Compassion Week
3. Be open to radical generosity this week
Matthew 7:13-23 CSB
Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?” Then I will announce to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!”
John 10:9 CSB
I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.
Answer Key: Path; Two, Garden