The Narrow Gate

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, open my heart and mind, Holy Spirit. Fill my consciousness and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: 1 John 1:8–9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 

truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness.

Verse of the day- Matthew 16:15-16"What about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Today’s reading: Psalm 33-34 Acts 24 

King David and The Narrow Gate

Just before the shepherd who would become King David killed the giant man, Goliath, of the Philistine army, God breathed these words through him in 1 Samuel 17:47:

“And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

Take stock-all your own sin-your judgments of others, your secret sins-the things no other person knows but God. Now think of all the things that worry you. You can take this baggage to the Lord right now and confess and be clean.(1 John 1:9)

But...that is just the start.

Psalm 51: 3 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned    and done what is evil in your sight;”

What happened to that young man who slay the giant of the enemy of God?

When David was confronted by Nathan with his sin with Bathsheba, David said,

“I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin.” 

Like David, there are times when we must be shown our sins. It is not that we have sinned ignorantly, but we, like David, get so caught up in one sin justifying another that we must finish what we start...until tragedy or the voice of the Holy Spirit strikes us and we are naked before God in our guilt.

King David, just like us, was given the heart of a warrior. He stayed home-thinking he could escape the battle-but the battle came to him in the form of murderous temptation-where he was defeated. He tried to ignore his guilt but sin has consequences that cannot be hidden.

Jesus tells us to enter through the narrow door.

And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:23–24

We see in David’s story that no amount of money or power can hide the consequences of our sin. Even if the world never knows, our sin will destroy us internally.

The narrow gate is elusive to the proud, the controlling, and the judgmental.

Humility is learned as David found pleading with God and fasting on his face as his child was dying.

We do not have to get to that point, not all of us-some will-but all of us have to confess, as David, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Tell God Your sin-admit it-and ask God to move you on to the narrow gate.

After the child died, from 2 Samuel 12:20, David got up, washed himself, went to worship, and went home and ate.

...because He loves you...He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Because of Your endless love, I will hallow Your name. I seek your kingdom and my heart to desire obedience. Give me vision of the narrow gate-Jesus my Lord and forgive me for my rebellion. Lead me away from wickedness.

Father of truth and courage,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen