ESOCS Devotional 13 March 2026 – The Narrow Path to Salvation
MEMORY VERSE: “He replied, Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.” Luke 13:24 NLT
TEXT: LUKE 13:18-35
Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”
31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”
32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.
34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
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In the valley of dry bones of Ezekiel 37, the prophet exposed the spiritual dead state of the Israel nation at a point in time in their history. The people’s relationship with God had broken down. In their daily lives, the falcon could no longer hear the falconer, and the centre could no longer hold as well. Their spiritual life had become completely empty. Death had occurred in every soul (spirit man), and the moving bodies of men and women were like mere walking corpses.
However, God, because of His infinite mercies, as well as concern for His Holy Name, caused prophet Ezekiel to stand in the gap – and commanded him to prophesy, teach, and preach the word of salvation and redemption to the spiritually dead land. In the same manner, Jesus has sent out his preachers, teachers and true prophets into all nations of the earth (Matthew 28:19), to stand in the gap as well, to do the same.
In the valley of dry bones, the bones responded to the message of the man of God (just like the people of Nineveh) in Jonah Chapter 3, and they received life. Dear child of God, please note that life on earth is just like an empty dream. In heaven, it is an endless blissful life of comfort and happiness. The question is how are you preparing? Are you working towards this endless bliss in heaven, or eternal damnation in hell?
The real cost of human salvation, which is the blood of Jesus Christ, is beyond our comprehension. He was executed in our place. He also set us free by removing our guilt. On the other hand, however, receiving Christ as our only Saviour is not without cost on our part (Luke 14:28-30). The cost is complete surrender to God and His will, just as Christ was completely submissive to His Father’s will – even unto death. Though it is not a very smooth road to travel, it is possible.
Reflections
- The cost of following Jesus is complete surrender. How prepared are you?
Prayer
- Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to follow.
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-19; Jeremiah 2:4-18; 2 Corinthians 2:5-17
ESOCS Devotional 13 March 2026
