Embracing Humility: The Path to God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Entering Through the Narrow Gate Requires Humility

The path to the kingdom of God is not about strength or heritage, but about becoming small through humility, letting go of pride, and recognizing our need for God’s grace. Jesus’ call to “strive to enter through the narrow gate” is an invitation to shed self-sufficiency and the assumption that we are entitled to salvation, and instead to approach God with the humility of a child, open to His transforming love. When we humble ourselves, we become truly strong, able to enter into the life God desires for us. [00:55]

Luke 13:24-30 (ESV)
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you sense pride making you “big,” and how can you intentionally practice humility today to become “small” enough to enter through the narrow gate?

Day 2: True Discipleship Is About Knowing Christ Personally

It is not enough to simply know about Jesus or to rely on religious heritage; true discipleship is about entering into a living relationship with Christ, allowing Him to know you, and encountering Him in prayer, worship, and the sacraments. This friendship with Jesus is the heart of the spiritual life, moving beyond mere knowledge to a daily, personal encounter that transforms how you live and love. [02:10]

John 17:3 (ESV)
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today, moving beyond knowing about Him to truly knowing Him?

Day 3: Childlike Trust in God Frees Us from Self-Sufficiency

Jesus calls us to become like little children, entrusting ourselves completely to the Father’s care rather than relying on our own strength or self-sufficiency. Just as a child runs to their parent in every circumstance, we are invited to bring our needs, joys, and burdens to God, trusting that He will provide and guide us. This childlike trust is a daily practice, especially in a culture that prizes independence, and it opens us to experience God’s providence and peace. [04:30]

Matthew 18:2-4 (ESV)
“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to rely on your own strength instead of trusting God as a child trusts a parent, and how can you surrender that area to Him today?

Day 4: Surrendering Our Burdens to Jesus Brings True Rest

When we try to carry life’s burdens on our own, we become weighed down and exhausted, but Jesus invites us to exchange our heavy yoke for His, trusting that He will carry the weight with us and lead us forward. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a continual practice—pausing in the midst of stress or decision-making to give our burdens to Christ and experience the lightness and clarity that comes from walking with Him. [07:48]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Reflection: What specific burden are you carrying today that you can consciously surrender to Jesus, asking Him to carry it with you and show you the next step?

Day 5: God’s Loving Discipline Grows Us into His Children

The challenges and difficulties we face are not signs of God’s punishment, but of His loving discipline, shaping us to become more like Christ and enlarging our hearts to receive and share His love. When we trust God’s fatherly care, even in hardship, we grow in spiritual maturity and become more able to bring others with us through the “narrow gate” into the fullness of life He offers. [09:30]

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11 (ESV)
“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?... For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Reflection: How can you view a current difficulty in your life as an opportunity for God’s loving discipline, and what step can you take to trust Him more deeply through it?

Sermon Summary

Understanding the words of Jesus often requires stepping into the shoes of his first-century listeners. Many in his audience believed that their heritage alone guaranteed them a place in God’s kingdom, but Jesus challenged this assumption by teaching about the “narrow gate.” This gate is not about physical strength or privilege, but about humility—a humility that makes us small enough to enter. Pride puffs us up, making us too “big” to fit, while humility, like that of a child, allows us to trust and depend on God fully.

The call is not simply to know about Christ, but to know him personally and allow ourselves to be known by him. This relationship is cultivated through prayer, the sacraments, and daily encounters with Jesus. Spiritual childhood, as exemplified by saints like Therese of Lisieux, is about entrusting ourselves completely to God, just as a child trusts a loving parent. In a culture that prizes self-sufficiency, this can feel counterintuitive, but Jesus invites us to lay down our burdens and take up his yoke, which is easy and light because he carries it with us.

Daily life often tempts us to rely on our own strength, but the invitation is to pause, surrender our worries and decisions to Jesus, and trust him to lead us. This surrender is not a one-time act but a continual practice—recognizing when we are taking too much upon ourselves and choosing instead to trust God’s providence. Even the challenges and disciplines we face are not punishments, but opportunities for growth, enlarging our hearts to receive and share more of God’s love.

As we grow in childlike trust, the narrow gate becomes wide, not only for ourselves but for those we lead by example. The heart of the Christian life is to experience the friendship, love, and providential care of God as his beloved children, walking with him through every circumstance.

Key Takeaways

1. Humility is the True Strength for the Narrow Gate The “narrow gate” Jesus speaks of is not about being strong in the world’s eyes, but about becoming small through humility. Pride makes us too large to enter, while humility allows us to fit through, relying on God rather than our own status or heritage. This humility is the foundation for entering into God’s kingdom. [01:45]
2. Knowing Christ is More Than Knowing About Him There is a profound difference between knowing facts about Jesus and truly knowing him in relationship. The invitation is to encounter Christ personally—in prayer, in the sacraments, and in daily life—allowing him to know us and transform us. This relational knowledge is the heart of discipleship. [03:10]
3. Spiritual Childhood: Trusting Like a Child Jesus calls us to become like little children, not in immaturity, but in trust and dependence. Spiritual childhood means entrusting every aspect of our lives to God, just as a child trusts a parent for provision, comfort, and guidance. Saints like Therese of Lisieux show us that this childlike trust is the path to true freedom and peace. [05:30]
4. Surrendering Self-Sufficiency for God’s Yoke Our culture often tells us to be self-sufficient, but Jesus invites us to lay down our burdens and take up his yoke, which is light because he carries it with us. When we surrender our self-reliance and invite Jesus into our daily decisions and struggles, we experience a tangible lightening of our burdens and clearer guidance. [07:48]
5. Discipline as Loving Formation, Not Punishment The challenges and disciplines we face are not signs of God’s displeasure, but of his loving desire to form us. When we embrace these moments with trust, our hearts grow larger to receive and share God’s love. Surrendering to God in these times transforms discipline into a path of deeper intimacy and joy.

** [11:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Understanding Jesus in His First-Century Context
[01:45] - The Narrow Gate: Humility vs. Pride
[03:10] - Knowing Christ vs. Knowing About Him
[04:20] - Spiritual Childhood and Trust
[05:30] - Lessons from St. Therese of Lisieux
[06:40] - The Struggle with Self-Sufficiency
[07:48] - Surrendering to Jesus’ Yoke
[09:00] - Practical Steps for Daily Surrender
[10:10] - Recognizing and Renouncing Self-Reliance
[11:30] - Discipline as Loving Formation
[12:40] - Growing Hearts for God’s Love
[13:30] - Bringing Others Through the Gate
[14:10] - Experiencing God’s Friendship and Care

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Luke 13:22-30 (ESV) — > He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

2. Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV) — > At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

3. Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) — > “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Observation Questions

In Luke 13:24, what does Jesus say about entering through the narrow door? What does he warn will happen to some who try to enter?
According to Matthew 18:3-4, what does Jesus say is required to enter the kingdom of heaven?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the real “strength” needed to enter the narrow gate? ([01:45])
What does Jesus promise to those who come to him with their burdens in Matthew 11:28-30?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus uses the image of a “narrow gate” or “narrow door” to describe entering God’s kingdom? What does this say about the attitudes or qualities God values?
The sermon mentions that some of Jesus’ listeners believed their heritage guaranteed them a place in God’s kingdom. How does Jesus challenge this assumption? ([00:30])
What does it mean to “know” Jesus, as opposed to just knowing about him? How does this difference show up in someone’s life? ([03:10])
The pastor talks about spiritual childhood and trusting God like a child trusts a parent. Why might this be difficult for adults, especially in our culture? ([05:30])

Application Questions

The sermon says pride makes us “too big” to fit through the narrow gate, while humility makes us “small enough.” Can you think of a recent situation where pride got in the way of your relationship with God or others? What would humility have looked like in that moment? ([01:45])
The pastor shared about the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing him. What is one practical way you could move from just knowing about Jesus to knowing him more personally this week? ([03:10])
When was the last time you tried to handle a problem or decision all on your own, without bringing it to God? What happened? How could you practice surrendering these things to Jesus, as the pastor described? ([07:48])
The sermon encourages us to pause and surrender our worries and decisions to Jesus throughout the day. What is one area of your life right now where you need to do this? What would it look like to actually pause and pray in that moment? ([09:00])
The pastor mentioned that discipline and challenges are not punishments, but opportunities for growth. Is there a current challenge or “discipline” in your life that you have seen as a punishment? How might you see it differently in light of God’s love and desire to form you? ([11:30])
Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Is there a burden you are carrying that feels heavy right now? What would it look like to “take off your yoke” and take on Jesus’ yoke instead? ([07:48])
The sermon says that as we grow in childlike trust, we can help lead others through the narrow gate by our example. Who is someone in your life who might be watching your example? How could your trust in God encourage them? ([13:30])

Sermon Clips

One of the things I found most helpful in understanding many of the parables and stories and things that Jesus says is understanding how those in the first century would have understood what he was saying to them. And when we kind of unlock that, because we're, you know, 20 centuries away from that, it can be difficult at times to understand it completely. And so in the context of this, our first reading gives us a little bit of help because it's about the fact that God not only comes to his people Israel, but that's where Jesus enters into the world, but the mission is going to go out to the whole world from the north and the south and the east and the west. All of those will be drawn into the heavenly kingdom. [00:00:09] (45 seconds) #KingdomFromEveryDirection

We may know about Christ, but do we know him? And do we allow him to know us, right? There's this relationship, this friendship that Jesus invites us into. And that's the key to discipleship. That's the key to the spiritual life. Not to just know about Christ, but to know him, to encounter him in his liturgy, to encounter him in prayer, in these, in the different sacraments of the church, or these privileged encounters with Jesus. And that's what it's all about. That's what we want to ask the Lord for the grace of. [00:02:23] (36 seconds) #KnowingChristDeeply

St. Therese of Lisieux comes to mind for me because she talks about this spiritual childhood, right? This being and entrusting ourself so completely to God that we trust Him for everything, right? A lot of times I find in my daily life that I'm trying to be self -sufficient when it comes to the things that I need to do that day. And that may be kind of the difficulty of our time because that's kind of what we're told in almost every other aspect of our life. [00:04:38] (34 seconds) #TotalDependence

But that's not what Jesus tells us to do. Jesus says, become like a little child. Come to me. What does a child do in the best of circumstances? They trust completely in their parents to provide for what they need. They go to them in those times of sadness. They go to them when they're happy. In all cases, they run and they trust in their parents to take care of them. That's what the Lord wants us to do with him, right? [00:05:23] (27 seconds) #SurrenderToJesus

And then in that way, as children, it's not a narrow gate. It's the one that we walk through with the Lord and we don't have any problems at all. Things of the world become smaller and the things of heaven become grandiose and we become those children who are able to walk through it. [00:06:36] (18 seconds) #DailyGraceOfSurrender

So in your daily life, this is the thing that I do because, you know, I don't stand up here as if I've done this well. It's just that I know I have to do it multiple times a day, right? I'll notice like, oh, you're relying on yourself again, Ryan, and you know how that goes. Never good, right? It always ends up bad. And so I take a moment and I stop and I say, okay, Jesus, I got this thing that I have to make a decision on. So I bring it to you and I pray for maybe a minute or two and I surrender it to him. And all of a sudden there seems to be a clearer path of what I should do. And then I do it, right? And I just keep doing that with all the things that come up, all the things that I tend to take upon myself. [00:06:53] (44 seconds) #DisciplineWithLove

One of the prayers, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before, but it's kind of like the, you know, what Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. We most likely don't believe that because of our own experience. And that's because I've learned that most of the time I'm taking my own burden on my shoulders, right? So that yoke was a thing that went over the beast of two, two beasts of burden. And when it comes to me, I take one, right? It's me carrying the whole thing. And so what I'll do is I'll just make a prayer. Jesus, I take my yoke off of myself and I take yours on because then that means he's next to me. He's carrying most of the weight. And I begin, and I actually, it can feel like physically, a physical experience of being, of lightening the burden because I'm allowing him to carry it with me and to then lead the way on that journey to him. [00:07:38] (58 seconds) #WideGateWithChrist

And so bring those things to him this week. Make that kind of your, your prayer, the grace that you ask for each day in your prayer. Lord, help me to recognize those moments when I'm taking too much upon myself and I'm relying too much on myself and help me to surrender that to you. [00:08:36] (17 seconds)

And then to trust as a child trusts in his father, to trust in you, to know that you desire to lead me, that you desire to carry the burden with me and to teach me along the way, right? That's what our second reading is about this, that the Lord permits these things, not as a way of like punishing us, that's the enemy's lie to us, but a way of disciplining us, a way of helping us become better. [00:08:53] (28 seconds)

So bring those things to the Lord this week, surrender those to him in the moment, right? When, as soon as you recognize what's going on, surrender it to him. Say, Lord, I renounce this self -sufficiency and I trust in you. You are my father. You will lead me, you will guide me, and you will prepare me in this life to become more and more a child of God, more and more a little child who trusts in the heavenly father. [00:09:35] (26 seconds)

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