Discern The Road You Travel

Greetings Reader.


Bogatzky's writing below address the practicalness of your daily life, as in what you see, what you hear, where your affections go, how your time gets spent, which emotions stir most in you, and the true source of your joy (if you even truly have joy).


Friend, there is no denying that our days are hard for us as a nation and our individual lives full of difficulties, heaviness and challenge. But, as the load weighs upon you and your family, your body and your spirit (your heart and soul), do not become blind to the narrowness of the way to which, if you are in Christ, you have been called. Realize when slippage is occurring and repent in humility and honesty that you have entertained the tyranny of the world as more pressing and worthy of your life than life with God through His beloved Son.


There is no true life on the broad road (it takes life), yet it feels the most life giving. True life, that which ultimately is yours and possesses the power to sustain you, requires you to constantly see differences and yield your self to the narrowness of God's ways (essentially, always being most passionate and desirous of God and all that pertains to the Christian life) over submitting to voices and demands that do not have their origin in God and His purposes. This dynamic is the movement, the life, of faith in the careful Christian heart and mind.


The world has the full capability of crushing and extinguishing (or rendering useless) any measure of faith in you, and you are the one required to prevent that from happening. Take courage in Christ, dear friend. God's Spirit, His Word, and His people are yours to draw strength from. No trial that you experience is yours alone to carry. We are all human. We are all fallen. We all live in a fallen world. The nature of our experiences are more common than we allow ourselves to believe. Christ too experienced the fullness of human trial in the world, yet He both overcame the world and invites us to live in His victory, rest and peace. We generally refuse to yield and accept His invitation and instead remain on the broad road. You alone know your heart. You alone, before God Himself, need to honestly confess to Him your weakness, concerns, fears and need of His mercy and goodness in your life. Do this frequently. The Father delights in being your source of life and your Satisfaction. He gave His Son for this reason.


After reading Bogatzky, ask yourself in all honesty, which road you're really on: One that takes life or One that gives life?

God's Best,


Carl




"Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7. 13, 14.


This sounds to harsh in the ears of the old man, who would not have the law made use of in these gospel times, either to the converted or unconverted; and yet to the old man, the law, and not the gospel, properly belongs. St. Paul, the great preacher of the gospel, made use of the law to rouse unconverted Felix from his security, Acts 24. 25.; and warn the unconverted Romans from falling into it again. Romans 8. 13. Which way dost thou walk? Examine thyself. Is it the narrow way? - Art thou quite sure of it? - Venture not to go on any further at random. It is a matter of great consequence; if thou wilt be safe, try better for it; thou mayest be easily deceived. Alas! thou art surely in the broad road to destruction, if thou still lovest and art conformed to the world. Art thou but indifferent with regard to the things of God, relishing more the vanities, pleasure, companies, treasures, and honours of this world? - thou art in the good narrow way that leads unto life. Oh, consider this well, and stop short before it is too late, and thou drop into the bottomless pit of perdition!"


"Strait is the way, the door is strait, That leads to joys on high; 'Tis but a few that find the gate, While crowds mistake and die."