SMALL IS THE GATE … AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT / MATTHEW 7:14

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Walking the Narrow Path: The Cost and Comfort of Following Jesus

We live in a world obsessed with big numbers, majorities, and the easiest route. We are told to follow the crowd, stream the most popular hits, and take the path of least resistance. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus flips this cultural script entirely. He gives us a sobering reality check that is just as urgent today as it was two thousand years ago:

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” — Matthew 7:14

Christ made it clear that we should not expect the majority of people to follow Him. The road to eternal life with God is not a crowded highway; it is a quiet, deliberate path.

The Gate of Humility and Repentance

To even enter this road, we must pass through a small gate. That gate is built on godly humility and true repentance. It requires us to turn from our own way, deny our selfish ambitions, and completely surrender to Jesus.

While accepting Christ’s free gift of forgiveness is a moment of pure grace, sticking to the path that follows is where our faith is truly refined. Walking the narrow road means doing all that we can to obey His commands, pursuing His high standards, and pressing on through life’s trials with authentic faith, purity, and love.

The Cost of Discipleship

Being a disciple literally means being a disciplined follower and learner. In Matthew 5:3-12, Jesus outlines the breathtaking blessings of this life—the peace, the mercy, and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. But He never hides the price tag.

Following Jesus is costly. It demands difficult choices and invites challenging seasons. The obligations of right living are heavy:

• Pressing on in faith through persecution and misunderstanding.
• Extending radical love to our enemies when everything inside us wants to retaliate.
• Daily self-denial in a culture that screams self-indulgence.

Trusting Jesus to make the necessary life changes, and continuing to follow Him no matter what, is not an easy journey. It will test our faith to its absolute limits. But as the scripture promises, this narrow road is the only one that leads to true, everlasting life. When the world chooses the wide and easy highway, let us choose the beautiful, costly, and life-giving way of the Cross.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today recognizing that the path You have called us to walk is narrow. Forgive us for the times we have looked longingly at the wide road, desiring the comfort of the crowd and the ease of an undisciplined life. Give us the courage to stand apart.

We ask for the grace of true repentance and a spirit of deep humility. Help us to daily deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. When our faith is tested extremely, anchor our hearts in Your unchanging love. Grant us the endurance to pursue Your standards of purity, to love our enemies, and to press on through every difficulty with our eyes fixed firmly on eternity.

Thank You for the beautiful promise that this narrow road leads to life. We choose You today, Lord. Guide our steps.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. YOUR FATHER … GIVE GOOD GIFTS / MATTHEW 7:11
2. ASK … SEEK … KNOCK / MATTHEW 7:7-8
3. DO NOT JUDGE / MATTHEW 7:1
4. SEEK … KINGDOM … RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 6:33
5. IF THAT IS HOW GOD CLOTHES / MATTHEW 6:30
6. DO NOT WORRY / MATTHEW 6:25
7. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
8. EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY / MATTHEW 6:22
9. WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16
10. IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15
11. IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
12. DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
13. FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
14. DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
15. YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
16. THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
17. PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
18. ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
19. DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
20. EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS / MATTHEW 5:32
21. HELL / MATTHEW 5:29
22. LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
23. ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
24. UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
25. GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
26. THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
27. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
28. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
29. PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
30. THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
31. THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
32. THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
33. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
34. THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
35. THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
36. BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
37. SERMON ON THE MOUNT / MATTHEW 5-7
38. THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
39. FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
40. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
41. ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD / MATTHEW 4:8
42. IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6-7
43. FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
44. JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
45. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
46. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
47. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
48. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
49. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
50. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
51. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
52. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
53. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
54. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
55. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
56. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1-2
57. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
58. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
59. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
60. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
61. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID /MATTHEW 1:1
62. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
63. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace