April 8, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Strait Gate

Luke 13:22  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

In Verse twenty three the question is asked; “Lord, are there few that be saved?”

Although the Lord answers the question in a round about way, we know the answer is yes, there are few that be saved.

There is one gate and it is strait. Many will seek to enter in but will not be able. Why? Why will many not enter in when they strive to enter in? The answer is Jesus.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

What does it mean that many will strive to enter in? Oh, my dear friend, many will strive through religious efforts. Many will strive by trying to be good and by doing good things. Many will strive by attempting to please God in some form or fashion not knowing that they have not even begun to enter the door for that door is Christ Jesus not themselves and what they can do.

In reading the previous verses you will find that Christendom is filled with many religions who proclaim Christ but do not believe in Christ. Their definition of the door, the gate, is different than the bible’s definition.

As said in verses 25 and 26, when the door of opportunity is shut many will knock and say open up, and the Lord will say I don’t know you.

They will respond with how they had eaten and drank in His presence and how He taught in their streets and the Lord will respond with I don’t know you depart from me and there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

John 8:21  Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

The wonderful thing is this, there will be those who do find the door, they will find Jesus and they will be saved and they will be welcomed into His presence.

Luke 13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Did you catch that last phrase? The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Christians are the last to be saved and the Jews first.

It also gives the indication that you must come to a point in your life where you become last and Jesus comes first. In other words, stop trying to save yourself by doing religious things, instead completely trust in Jesus. Stop trusting in what you can do to please God and let the Lord save you. Cast yourself upon His grace and mercy and let Jesus save you.

The door is still open, one day it will be closed.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook