scary

Have you read some Scripture and thought "man that's some scary stuff"? Happened to me this morning as I was reading this Scripture in Matthew. I guess there couple things in this that bother me. One is as a leader, how am I doing in helping people find the narrow gate, the way less trodden? Does my life and ministry reflect a narrow gate lifestyle?  Another thing is even though we aren't called to be fruit inspectors we need to be able to discern between good fruit and bad. There are many false prophets who are tricking people to follow the wide and easy path, some of their fruit has the appearance of being good but is rotten and bitter at the core. And when it comes to prophets remember the Bible says that the prophet need to judge the prophets.
We need to choose the narrow, less popular route with our lives. We need to be ok with going against the grain and flow. We need to be willing to stand and be obedient to Abba even if others pressure us to go a more comfortable way.  I want to be like the man that built his house upon the rock.
Matthew 7:13-24 "Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and  spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock."