Jesus invited everyone to come and taste the kingdom of God. But he also drew boundaries. Notice these statements from Jesus as recorded by Luke:

Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division (Luke 12:50).

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to (Luke 13:24).

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples (Luke 14:33).

Following Jesus involves giving up everything. Ponder a bit on that idea. This involves possessions, career, and financial plans, but doesn’t stop there. His ask soaks to the core of my being. Surrender of self-will to his will. Letting Jesus have his way, whatever that means. Everything strikes me uniquely.

Jesus didn’t give a two-tier call, where the saintly enter the narrow door and the rest shuffle through the turnstiles of heaven. As I read, there’s only one door, and it’s narrow.

Make every effort to enter.

Luke 12, 13 & 14 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Filip Kominik