THE DELIGHTFUL WAY

Part 1

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it"
(Matthew 7:13, 14 NLT).

Instead of leading downward, the delightful way leads upward. It's not the easiest way, but it leads to life and joy. Are you willing to walk this road? Come with me and let's find some of the principles we need to follow as walk this way. Once again, we'll keep to the D words.

IT'S DECLARING

We cannot effectively walk this road without declaring the works of God. We are not saved if we do not confess (Romans 10:9, 10). This is how we begin our Christian life and this how we continue it. We keep on confessing that Jesus Christ is our Savior. We daily confess the truths in His Word. We declare the works of the Lord. The Bible is full of such Scriptures. Here are a few to encourage you:

Psalm 40:9-11: "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation."

Psalm 66:16, "I will declare what he hath done for my soul."

Psalm 96:10, "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth." We do not keep our testimony only amongst believers. We must tell the world. We tell the agnostics, the atheists, and the humanists that our God reigns and is the only Savior of the world.

Psalm 145:4-7, 11, 12: "One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness . . .They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom."

2 Corinthians 4:13: "I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak." Do you? How can we say we believe if we are not prepared to speak out our belief?

Hebrews 13: 6: "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Read also Psalm 71: 17; 107:21, 22; 119:13; Acts 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:1; Hebrews 11:14; and 1 John 1:5.

IT'S DECREASING

John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). This should also be our testimony. Less and less of me and more and more of Jesus. This is a big thing for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, because each one of us are inherently selfish. In our natural flesh we would like everything to revolve around us. Our flesh is self-serving and self-centered. We are only changed as we allow the Holy Spirit freedom to work in our hearts to conform us to His image. What is His image? He is the One who was prepared to leave the glory of Heaven and to become a man, to humble himself, and lose His reputation. And He wants us to have the same attitude (Philippians 2:5-8).

IT'S DEDICATING

King Solomon built a house for God to dwell (2 Chronicles 2:4). God no longer dwells in a temple but wants to dwell in our bodies instead. 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16 tell us that our bodies have now become the Holy of Holies for the dwelling place of God. Have you dedicated your temple to God to be set apart totally for Him? Anything less is not fit for the narrow road.

We can never be reminded enough of Romans 12:2 can we? "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

IT'S DELIGHTING

Jesus Christ, the Son of God delighted to do the Father's will even though it took him to the cruel cross to pour out His blood for our sins. He declares in Psalm 40:8, "I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart." We also should have the same attitude to do our Father's will--not duty, but delight (Philippians 2:5-8). God's will for you, dear mother, is to embrace the role He has given you as a mother and to delight in nurturing and raising your children in your home. Don't let the enemy deceive you to think of it as a drudgery. Embrace it as a delight.

IT'S DELIVERING

We must constantly pray for ourselves, and for each one of our children, that we will be daily delivered from evil and from being lured into this world system.

Jesus told us to pray: "Deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:12).

Galatians 1:3, 4: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he mighty deliver us from this present evil world."

Paul knew that his death was imminent when he wrote these words from prison: "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"I thank you, dear Father, for leading me to the narrow road. Please help me to walk a straight line on this road, never swerving to the right or the left. Help me to walk with joy and delight knowing that this road leads to life and immortality. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I've left the broad way that leads to destruction;

I'm on the narrow way that leads to life.