It is a narrow but wide road because remember what Jesus said in Mark 10:29- 30 :
‘ “Truly I tell you...., no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or fields for me and the gospel (feels narrow and painful, lonely) will fail to
receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers,
children and fields (feels wide, joyful and free) —along with persecutions —(feels truly
narrow and agonizing) and in the age to come eternal life ”’(feels broad, abundant,
with ultimate victor’s crown, the prize of our salvation). This is a way full of
reward and eternal life, with persecutions.
God does not want us to be inward looking. He wants us to lay down our lives
both for Him and for our brothers. That means promoting the principles of the
Kingdom of God, and enriching the lives of those around us. ‘This is how we know
what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for
our brothers and sisters.’ 1 John 3:16. The life of sacrifice we are called to is for the
sake of God, and our brethren.
Children of God must be different. When the world is flowing towards one
direction, children of God stand out ‘a head taller’ than the rest, by following the
right way no matter what, because they are Kings, they are Princes and Princesses.
They have been brought up and taught differently, and choose to live a life of
honour for the King and Kingdom. They are an example to those around them,
and they champion the values of the Kingdom by how they live their lives. They
sacrifice; they lay down their lives for King and Kingdom. From a tender age they
carry the weight of the Kingdom on their shoulders, and forego much of the
carefree living other citizens may enjoy. This, while it may bring discomfort in
certain ways and a sense of missing out, a sense of being isolated and
misunderstood, also guarantees them a life of privilege, a life of such
opportunities, pomp, luxury and abundance, as the rest of the citizens can only
dream of.
If we are the spiritual offspring of both Abraham and Jesus, then we must learn to
live lives of self-sacrifice, lives where our greatest purpose is to bring God joy and
glory. We live our lives in such a way that He might say to us one day: ‘Well done,
good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge
of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:2 1 )