Daily Devotional For Sunday, October 18, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Luke 13:22-30. This story by Luke gives us Jesus’ teaching about the narrow way.
Have you ever been asked if you are a Christian and your response was, “Yes I am a disciple of the narrow way”? If you haven’t, one female Korean student studying at Harvard gave this as her response to this question. It seems that Alistair Begg, a preacher, was there in a restaurant at the campus to tidy up his sermon for that day for chapel. He noticed that while in this restaurant, homeless people came in, regulars came in and he felt that on such a campus his sermon would fall on deaf ears until he saw this Korean student reading her Bible. He went over to talk to her. She was the only Christian in her family and she was 10,000 miles away from home. She had grown up in a Buddhist home where there are over 3 million gods in Buddhism, certainly the opposite of the narrow way of Jesus. When he asked her if she was a Christian, her response was, “I am a disciple of the narrow way” (Source: R. Kent Hughs, Preach The Word, “Luke,” Vol. 2, p. 96).
In all my years of ministry I have never heard anyone answer the question, “Are you A Christian?” that way. Jesus’ teaching here about the narrow way comes as the result of someone asking him this question in Luke 13:22, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” (NLT). What a loaded question. The Jews believed that all Jews would be saved, except the worse Jews and and Gentiles. They did teach that a couple Gentiles would be saved such as Rahab and Ruth. One of their theological books in the Mishnah said this:
“All Israelites have a share in the world to come, for it is written, Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever; the branch of my planting, the work of my hands that I may be glorified. And these are they that have no share in the world to come: he that says that there is no resurrection of the dead prescribed in the Law, and [he that says] that the Law is not from Heaven, and an Epicurean. (Sanhedrin 10.1).”
So, when this unnamed person asked this question, everyone listening expected Jesus to say, “All Jews will be saved, except the worse ones. And no Gentiles will be saved at all.” Jesus said that many Jews would try to enter heaven but not make it. What a slap in the faces of those Jews who heard this. In Jesus’ day the Jews felt they were privileged and as descendants of Abraham, they had a guaranteed ticket to heaven.
The presumption of one’s salvation has sent many people to hell. In verse 22, Jesus said, “Strive to enter . . .” The word translated as “strive” is the Greek New Testament word [ἀγωνίζομαι; agōnizomai]. This is where we get our English word “agony, agonizing.”This word was frequently used to describe the efforts of an athlete in competition, straining for the goal, or of a warrior compelling every cell of his body to obtain the victory. Such discipline and effort is “agonizing.”
The size of the door here is not the issue. What is? Coming through the right door and in this case, that door was and is Jesus Christ. Jesus says this in John 10:9a, “I am the Door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved . . .” (NASB). There is a narrowness to entry into heaven and that is humility. Presumption is not. Heritage is not. Being good is not.
This was and is Jesus’ point in Matthew 7:13-14. Agony – “we are not saved by agonizing efforts, but we are saved through agonizing faith” (Source: Alexander Maclaren, “The Epistles of St. Paul to the Colossians and Philemon,” The Exposition Bible, p. 9). This was and is Jesus’ point in John 6:27-29. There is a time frame on how long the door of salvation is open. Once you die without Christ, that door is closed permanently (Heb. 9:27. If you are not saved, then today is the day of salvation for you (2 Cor. 6:2). Even engaging in a ministry is not proof of salvation. Jesus warned us about this in Matthew 7:21-23. Works never save us (Eph. 2:8-9).
Reflection Assignment: So, the real question is: are you genuinely a disciple of the narrow way?” Has and does your relationship to Christ turn you from sin and evil? Are you morally improved by God’s standards? Do you live with an attitude of humility? Do you excuse, rationalize and justify your sins or are you appalled by them, confess them and repent from them? If not, you’re going to have weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell.
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 7:13-14, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. (14) But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I pray that I am a disciple of the narrow way. I pray that I have genuinely come to You in the way You say I must. I thank You that I do not have to work for my salvation because You have done all the work on the cross. Please forgive me when I get prideful or presumptuous about salvation. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly