"Follow Me," Jesus says; and we cannot but yield to His almighty voice. He draws us out of the world and we follow Him. He leads us in at the strait gate and we follow Him. He guides us along the narrow way and we follow Him; our cross upon our shoulder and the crown before our eye!
Smoothness, and brightness, and greenness are not the features of the narrow way; but rather thorns and briars, darkness and dust, and ruggedness, all along; fightings without, and fears within.
The road to Heaven is not so pleasant, and comfortable, and easy, and flowery as many dream. It is not a bright, sunny, flowery path. It is not paved with triumph though it is to end in victory. The termination is glory, honor, and immortality; but on the way there is the thorn in the flesh, the sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense yonder but labor here! Rest yonder but weariness here! Joy and security yonder but here endurance and watchfulness, the race, the battle, the burden, and ofttimes the heavy heart.
[Horatius Bonar]
Matthew 16:24 ... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 7: 13-14 ... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Acts 14:22 ... Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.❤
