Narrow Door Cafe

[Walter and Deborah]

Saturday 5-28-22 7th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Iyar 26, 5782 70th. Spring Day

Day 41 – Iyar 26 – May 9 - Yesod of Yesod: Bonding in Bonding
Psalm 114; Matt. 7:24-27

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.

5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Matt. 7:24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

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Every person needs and has the capacity to bond with other people, with significant undertakings and with meaningful experiences.
Do I have difficulty bonding? Is the difficulty in all areas or only in certain ones? Do I bond easily with my job, but have trouble bonding with people? Or vice versa?

Examine the reasons for not bonding. Is it because I am too critical and find fault in everything as an excuse for
not bonding? Am I too locked in my own ways? Is my not bonding a result of discomfort with vulnerability?

Have I been hurt in my past bonding experiences? Has my trust been abused? Is my fear of bonding a result of the deficient bonding I experienced as a child?

To cultivate your capacity to bond, even if you have valid reasons to distrust, you must remember that God gave you a Divine soul that is nurturing and loving and you must learn to recognize the voice within, which will allow you to experience other people's souls and hearts.
Then you can slowly drop your defenses when you recognize someone or something you can truly trust.
One additional point: Bonding breeds bonding. When you bond in one area of your life, it helps you bond in other areas.

Exercise for the day: Begin bonding with a new person or experience you love by committing designated time each day or week to spend together constructively.

Narrow Door Cafe

Read: Luke 13:22–30 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 4–6; John 10:24–42
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Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Luke 13:24

Croissants, dumplings, pork curry, and all sorts of scrumptious food await those who find and enter the Narrow Door Cafe. Located in the Taiwanese city of Tainan, this cafe is literally a hole in the wall. Its entrance is barely forty centimeters wide (less than sixteen inches)—just enough for the average person to squeeze his way through! Yet, despite the challenge, this unique cafe has attracted large crowds.

Will this be true of the narrow door described in Luke 13:22–30? Someone asked Jesus, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23). In reply, Jesus challenged the person to “make every effort to enter through the narrow door” to God’s kingdom (v. 24).

He was essentially asking, “Will the saved include you?” Jesus used this analogy to urge the Jews not to be presumptuous. Many of them believed they’d be included in God’s kingdom because they were Abraham’s descendants or because they kept the law. But Jesus challenged them to respond to Him before “the owner of the house . . . closes the door” (v. 25).

Neither our family background nor our deeds can make us right with God. Only faith in Jesus can save us from sin and death (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5–7). The door is narrow, but it’s wide open to all who will put their faith in Jesus. He’s inviting us today to seize the opportunity to enter through the narrow door to His kingdom.

How can you have confidence you’ll enter through the narrow door and be assured of eternal life with Jesus? Why is this decision so important?

Jesus, thank You for inviting me into Your kingdom. I believe You came to die for me and You rose from the grave. Come into my life and be my Savior.

INSIGHT
Jesus’ words in Luke 13:22–30 are directed to the people of Israel. They were literally eating and drinking with Him and listening to His teaching (v. 26). Yet there’s a larger truth for all of us. When Christ refers to people from all directions coming to God’s feast (v. 29), He’s signaling the inclusion of gentiles in the kingdom of God.

This is what’s meant by “those who are last [the gentiles] will be first” (v. 30). Jesus’ somewhat lengthy response to the original question, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23), doesn’t necessarily mean that the number of the saved will be few. Rather, the “narrow door” (v. 24) is a reference to the exclusive way to God—only through Jesus the Son. As many as are willing to enter through Christ will be admitted to the kingdom.

By poh fang chia|May 28th, 2022

Salvation Luke Thirteen:22-30

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.

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Love, Walter and Debbie

[B-B]

4 minutes ago, Walter and Deborah said:

Rather, the “narrow door” (v. 24) is a reference to the exclusive way to God—only through Jesus the Son. As many as are willing to enter through Christ will be admitted to the kingdom.

Amen...thanks again for sharing 😊

[Mama Etna]

I appreciate the additional study material you add at the top.  Thank you for sharing.

[Walter and Deborah]

3 hours ago, B-B said:

Amen...thanks again for sharing 😊

You are welcome

Love, Walter and Debbie

[Walter and Deborah]

3 hours ago, Mama Etna said:

I appreciate the additional study material you add at the top.  Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the encouragement

Love, Walter and Debbie