For those who wonder what it might take to walk with God pleasing Him, here is a short testimony by Pastor Conlon of Times Square Church, NYC, in which he describes how God separated him from some of his natural aspirations through difficulties, and proved Himself more than able to supply what he needed as he continued trusting God.
http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20080914S3.mp3 Miracles (32 minutes)
What has this question got to do with the topic?
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him]. 28 Come to me, all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye [you all]
shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
Our taking of His yoke upon ourselves, necessarily separates us from (even) our spouse, spiritually speaking.
You are arguing Jesus against Jesus? Are you sure you understand this thread?
We live in an age of superficiality. That is the prevalent distinction of our time. The marriage commitment is taken lightly by many. Even the "believers" have a 50% divorce rate. When we take this superficial and selfish approach lo life in general and try applying something as scandalous and radical as the teachings of Christ about oneness of the body of Christ it is certain to be either misunderstood or temporized. The message can't sink in...since we are looking with modern eyes that know nothing of the depth of experience that the bible testifies to.
But the standard remains there for those who would persevere in seeking beyond what comes immediately to mind or heart. If we can't even keep a commitment that gratifies us in this life (like physical marriage) , how much less will we be able to pass through a way that even Jesus said was both narrow and difficult?
It is like this...
Imagine a doorway
after which is a straight path leading exactly in line with the doorway. Now we all come to the doorway from a different angle...of course no one is already on the exact right course that leads directly to the doorway. So God attracts us to the door or makes our path intercept the door..by grace. But if we continue along the same course that took us through the doorway we will go off in as many directions AFTER going through the door. So we have thousands of denominations corresponding to every possible deflected angle of the path we have chosen. But we are to walk on the highway of holiness after passing through the doorway...not claim that every path we choose after the doorway leads to life.
So we have a double task...to walk through the doorway (from whatever previous course we happen to have been on) AND follow the narrow path that leads to the throne of God. To do this means a radical departure from what we once thought was right and proper. We must be renewed in our whole way of thinking. We know the evidence of this renewal...to love as Jesus loved and to forsake all things in order to follow Christ as HIS disciple.
1Jn_2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Luk_14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Let the squirming begin anew!!!! ;)
Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
That find IT???? Which is the "it", the gate or the way? Many go through the gate but few follow the way. Many are called but few are chosen.
So the multitudes think that Jesus is who you want Him to be...there is no set doorway to Christ. And the those who do find the door think that the way is whatever you want it to be...there is no definite way of Christ set forth by God.