[Q2. The Narrow Door]

The narrowness of the gate is not because it is a small gate. It's narrow because there is only one way, Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. One must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, have Him in your heart and mind and filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a commercial on tv right now where she says "I believe there are many paths to God". Jesus called that the wide road. The people that are not looking for His coming are the ones that will not be able to enter. Everyone needs to believe they are THAT generation.

[Q4. Lord's Prayer and Forgiveness]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) How could praying the Lord

[Welcome]

Hello everyone. My name is lillian and I live in Mississippi. Yes we do have sunshine on clear days. I've been in only one study so far and enjoyed it so much. I am a bit intimidated, however, everyone is so much more knowledgable and expresses themselves so much better than I could ever hope for. I want so much to fall in love with Jesus, I thought I was, but somewhere along the way I took the wrong road. I just know I need Jesus in my life. If this is to personal I appoligize. I've been reading Colossians and must admit Pauls prayer is so beautiful. I told someone the other day wouldn't it be wonderful to know someone is praying that prayer for you. It makes me cry.

[Q4. Example of Godliness]

I once knew someone who had been introduced to God in a very strict way. She turned away the first chance she got and no matter what I said, made no difference. In fact, she told me, "Why would I want to worship an old man waiting to write down everything I do wrong?" I tried so hard to change her mind, to show her the Truth. I told her that is not the Jesus I know. I kept trying, she died alone, and I failed. I hate to think of, well....We should all be very careful of how we teach the young of our families, being mindful of the eyes watching us. Who would want to be a follower of someone who cleans the outside of the cup? What's inside does show.

[Q3. Godliness vs. Morality]

Godliness is a fresh, pure,joyful glow a person projects by having a close relationship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. What does it produce...God's will here on earth. He uses our eyes, ears, mouth, heart, arms, hands, legs and our feet. It will also produce questions and a hunger from an unbeliever as to just what it is 'he' has that I don't? What ever it is I want it!

Strict morality pales miserably when placed side by side. Strict morality forces one into a straight jacket...Nope, no joy there.

Jesus, Just give me Jesus

[Q2. Mediator and Ransom]

I think this goes back to Gen. 15:6-10, 17-18. God made a Blood covenant with Abraham. Usually each person is responsible to hold up his side of the agreement, but God being a loving and merciful God promised to hold up both sides of the agreememt, and for whatever reason one was unfaithful He would pay the price with His Blood. That was the death sentence of Jesus Christ. So Christ came into the world born in a 'laming cave' in Bethlehem, where sacrifical lambs were raised for the temple. It all ties into Gods beautiful truth. Once Christ was crucified keeping God's promise He became our High Priest, our Mediator. What a wonderful Son! I thank God every day for his love for me, I thank Jesus for loving His Father so much that He would die, to do His Fathers Will. It is important that the people of the church rememberer the absolute love God has for everyone, not just a chosen few.

[Q4. Exhortation]

I've never done anything like this before. I mean on line. As I was reading some of what others had written, afraid to post my own I came across yours and the poem. Thank you so much! I just lost my mom, dad and brother. Even if its been a couple of years now the pain is still raw. I started the journey with Jesus holding my hand and then later down the walk I looked down and I was holding my own hand. I don't know where I let go of Christ, I just know I want Him back! I want to be able to say the poem myself. So thank you so much for such a ray of sunlight!

[Q4. Exhortation]

Oh that each one of us would take this to heart. Fight the Good Fight. Stand for righteousness and truth. Hold fast to the gospel message and do not allow any other message to distract us from our purpose.

Paul says that "If anyone else -- even an angel -- should come to you with another gospel, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:9)

Our stand for the gospel can be a spiritual battle, and I think this exhortation has great application in today's culture of moral relativism. Where people teach that all ways lead to God, and you have your truth and I'll have mine, it is more important than ever to stand firm and fight the good fight.

I think it's important to do this with gentleness and under the guidance of the Spirit. -- the servant of the Lord is not to be quarrelsome, but shoudl be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are inopposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance (2 Tim. 2:24).

It is my prayer that I will be able to echo Paul's words at the end of my life -- that I have fought the good fight, finished the course and kept the faith.

There is a poem by Robert McQuilkin that I found among my Dad's papers after he passed away from a brain tumor in 2004. It's long, but it expresses the prayer to 'end well." If you will endulge me, I've included it here:

Let Me Get Home Before Dark

It's sundown, Lord,

the shadows of my life stretch back

into the dimnes of the years long spent.

I fear not death, for the grim foe betrays himself at last,

thrusting me forever into life:

Life with you, unsoiled and free.

But I do fear:

I fear that dark spectre may come too soon --

or do I mean, too late?

That I should end before I finish or

finish, but not well.

That I should stain your honor, shame you name,

grieve your loving heart.

Few, they tell me, finish well . . .

Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of a spirit

grown mean and small, or fruit shriveled on the vine,

bitter to the taste of my companions,

burden to be borned by those brave few who love me still.

No, Lord. Let the fruit grow lulsh and sweet,

A joy to all who taste;

Spirit-sign of God at work,

stronger, fuller, brighter at the end.

Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of tatered gifts,

rust-locked, half-spent, or ill-spent,

A life that once was used of God

now set aside.

Grief for glories gone or

Fretting for a task God never gave.

Mourning in the hollow chambers of memory,

Gazing on teh faded banners of vitories long gone.

Cannot I run well unto the end?

Lord, let me get home before dard/

The outer decays --

I do not fret or ask reprieve.

The ebbing strength but weans me from mother earth

and grows me up for heaven.

I do not cling to shadows cast by immortality.

I do not patch the scaffold lent to build the real, eternal me.

I do not clutch about me my cocoon,

vainly struggling to hold hostage

a free spirit pressing to be born.

But will I reach the gate

in lingering pain, body distorted, grotesque?

Or will it be a mind wandering untethered among light phantasies or grim terrors?

Of your grace, Father, I humbly ask,. . .

Let me get home before dark.

That poem describes the desire of a believer's heart, I think. We ought to keep on until the Lord calls us home. Keep on in the fight, running the race set before us with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus Christ the author and perfector of our faith, and with our feet firmly planted in His word.

As a well-known teacher says, "There is not retirement in the time of war." So we need to stay in the battle and follow the lead of our Commander. Fight the good fight.

I apologise for the length of this post -- but I did want to share the poem. Please let me know if it was out of line for me to do so.