October 5, 2025
I’m Going Through
Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Standing at life’s crossroads, we often face a difficult choice: follow the crowd down the wide, popular path or take the narrow road with the faithful few. The pressure to conform—to choose what everyone else is choosing—can be overwhelming.
Imagine Noah building an ark when no rain had ever fallen. Picture Abraham leaving his homeland for an unknown destination. Consider David facing Goliath when seasoned warriors cowered. Each faced a moment requiring a “made up mind” to follow God’s direction regardless of what others thought.
Jesus didn’t sugarcoat the reality of discipleship. He clearly stated that the path to spiritual life would be narrow and traveled by few. This isn’t because God desires exclusivity but because true faithfulness often requires walking against the cultural current.
The prophet Daniel exemplifies this resolute spirit. When faced with a decree forbidding prayer to anyone except the king, “Daniel went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). With a made-up mind, Daniel continued faithfully even when it meant entering the lions’ den alone.
The path of authentic faith rarely comes with the comfort of crowds. More often, it demands the courage to stand apart, to maintain conviction when compromise seems easier. But those with made-up minds discover a profound truth: walking with God’s “despised few” brings deeper joy than traveling with the admired many.
Today’s Prayer: Father, give me the courage to follow You even when the path seems lonely. Help me find joy in Your presence rather than in popular approval. Amen.
Reflection Question: What decision are you currently facing where God may be calling you to take the less traveled path?