Day – 114

How many will be saved?

Read: Judges 17,18; Psalm 114; Luke 13:18-35

Scripture: Luke 13: 23 Someone asked him (Jesus), “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Observation: Here, we see a genuine question from a follower of Jesus: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” We also may have asked this question several times with the Lord on different occasions. We know the biblical teaching that God wants all people to be saved. However, when we look at Jesus' answer here, it appears that he tells something else instead of giving a straightforward answer to the questioner. When we read this question in its context, we understand that Jesus talks about how to be saved. God is more concerned about the quality of his people than the quantity of their numbers. Jesus' reference to the narrow door indicates about entering the kingdom of God through him. Jesus is " the way and the truth and the life" (Jn.14:6).

Does the narrow door mean that only a few people will be saved? Jews had a common belief that only a few would be saved. Just before this question, Jesus told the people about the parables of the Mustard seeds and the Yeast, in which Jesus compared the Kingdom of God with the mustard seed and the yeast (Lk.13:18-21). This parable gives us a glimpse of the influence and impact of the Kingdom of God among the people. In verse 29, Jesus says many people will come from all corners of the world to participate in the feast of the Kingdom of God. Certainly, many people will be saved. But the question is whether I am ready to enter through the narrow door.

Application: As a follower of Jesus Christ, my focus should be on entering through the door, not counting the number of people. While I follow Christ, I must commit to denying myself and carrying the cross daily. When I allow God to work in my life, so that God's kingdom can grow and permeate society, many people will come to know God and enter the Kingdom of God. I will make every effort to follow Jesus diligently.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for answering one of my heart’s questions. Lord, help me to take the narrow road that leads to life, instead of choosing the broad road that leads to destruction. May your Holy Spirit strengthen me to walk in your way. Amen.

✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️  Day – 114