Today’s Scripture: Luke 13:22-30 (NRSV) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
Once, after a friend had visited a local church for a couple Sundays, I asked her how she liked it. “The people there just aren’t friendly,” she said. “It’s like they’re glad they made it in, and now they want to bar the door so no one else can join them.”
I call this the Nuclear Bunker mentality, or the Country Club mindset. Some people seem almost certain there won’t be enough room in heaven for everyone, so they’re constantly concerned about who will be excluded (not them, of course). Other people want to view heaven as an exclusive reward for the special people like them.
But, according to Jesus, this is exactly the kind of thinking that will keep us out of heaven. The questioner in this story asked, “Will only a few be saved?” The assumption was that the questioner was part of the few. But Jesus responded, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.” In other words, stop worrying about other people, and start worrying about yourself.
Thought for the day: Jesus said, “many will come from the east and the west and the north and the south,” which was a metaphorical way of saying that heaven will be packed with people from all over. Don’t worry about who will be excluded, just make sure you’re there for the party.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.