Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.”

You have likely heard that you cannot take “it” with you.

We gather things all of our lives.  We have houses, cars, bank accounts, and accomplishments.  We have weaknesses, failures, broken dreams, and broken hearts.  We cannot take them with us.

When we begin our journey we pack our suitcases and load up the trunk trying to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything.  Most of us just as likely as not, have packed everything including the kitchen sink.

What do we need to bring with us when we come to enter the narrow door that Jesus talks about in this passage?  We do not need our wallets or ID, he knows us.  We do not need our credentials, he created us.  We do not need our bags or anything else, he provides all we need and desire.

To enter through the narrow door we must come empty-handed.  We need to be bare and wide open in our souls to truly enter into the kingdom of God.  We must leave our pride and our weakness; we must leave our self-righteousness and our self-condemning.  We enter with nothing but love for the Lord, our God.

He helps us be prepared; he prepares us.  During this season of Lent, let us allow him to lift the burdens and baggage from us.  Allow him to lighten the load we carry so that we truly begin to understand how to enter the narrow door.

Lord,

Help us release the things we do not need to bring with us.  Guide and teach us as we step closer and closer to your kingdom.  Fill us with your love so we know we need nothing else.  I pray these things through Jesus, our Redeemer.  Amen.