Many there are who appreciate the fact that God exists, for it helps them make sense of the world and order their thinking. Even though they appreciate His being there, they are not seeking to be closely connected to Him. Few there are who desire to be intimate with their God above all other pursuits.
Many there are who love the idea of God, for that idea brings them comfort. Even though they love the idea of God, it is for what God can do for them, how He might meets their purposes. Few there are who love their God more than their own lives, and seek to live all of life only for His glory and His purposes.
Many are there who seek to obey specific scripture passages, teachings, and principles by which to order their lives. Few there are who seek to sacrificially obey their God in all things no matter the cost or difficulty.
Many there are who seek to know about their God – the facts, the doctrines, the lifestyle of one “in the know.” Few there are who seek to know their God as intimately and deeply as a wife intimately knows her husband, the very love of her life.
Many there are who pursue the Christian religion (their favorite version of it) with energy, even fervor. Few there are who pursue their God Himself, pursue Him as their one and only magnificent obsession, their one passion and purpose, their one pursuit.
Many there are who seek to spend time with their God – Sunday mornings for a couple of hours, a Bible study or group, a project now and then, and 20 minutes some mornings. Few there are who have surrendered all of their daily living up to their God, so much so their own lives are counted as crucified and dead to self-living, to sin, to the world.
Many there are who seek to be connected to a group who follows God, who enjoy the occasional fellowship of people of a similar lifestyle. Few there are who are pursing a union relationship with their God, a oneness with Him that can be describe only as partaking of His very nature and being indwelt by His very life.
Many there are who express worship, who do so with emotional passion because of how it affects them. Few there are who worship their God from a selfless and pure heart with only their God’s glory and infinite worth in view, with no thought for themselves or for any kind of status or gain.
“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.” – Jesus Christ.
Gate image via Pixabay. Banner image via author, Willow Lake, White Cloud Peaks Wilderness, Idaho.
One Pursuit 
Thank you–a cherished read. I just wrote something similar on my Instagram post this afternoon. In fact I used the many are called and few are chosen scripture, turning it to mean there is something about choosing God on our part after His free gift has been lavished upon us. That’s not the stopping point. He keeps going with us as the Author of our faith, yes; but salvation for us is the starting point. He wants us involved in working it out, so that our intimacy with Him increases to its fullness–as much as possible, shy of seeing Him face to face.
Again, thank you for sharing this sobering exhortation, fellow exhorter. Oh, I also mentioned how, if it were my preference I would have left that spiritual gift under the welcome mat of hospitality and helps, but that wasn’t God plan for my life. It’s not the easiest to bear; but it is one that humbles us, isn’t it. Encouragement and exhortation go hand-in-hand; and sometimes we need to sup at that table ourselves.
LikeLike