The Inside Job by Steven Vongchanh

WARNING: The following is a really tough scripture to grasp and understand. If I had to rate it on a scale of 1-10 on difficulty, I would give it a solid 8. I recommend reading these following verses with another person and talk about what it means to you. I am going to be bold and share a unique view on it.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)

Most responses to this scripture relate to life choices; Choosing the right and not the wrong; Of being in the world, but not of the world. And none of those responses are wrong. This strait gate to me represents a path to an inside job.

Jesus Christ shared with his disciples about the Holy Spirit who would be with them after Jesus, Himself would leave His earthly existence. That the Spirit would advocate for Christ and teach us the things we should know, and guide us to Him.

In this section of scripture in Matthew, we are this city. The main gate, our flesh or bodies will lead us to destruction. This gate, everyone sees. These are the mask and facades we put on. This is the box checking, "I go to church on Sundays, so everything must be well with me," that many will experience.

But the strait gate is narrow and not everyone can see this path. This is the gate to the heart. And this path to the heart leads to life and not many will allow this pathway to be open to the Spirit. I call it an inside job because when we allow the Spirit to dwell within our most inter-being intimately, just like in the body, life flows from our heart, there is a change that happens from the inside and our outsides, our bodies show it. For example praise and worship. So many songs provide words and musical and magical environment for us to feel the Spirit. And with our voices, our souls cry out. Not everyone will experience this open love, gratitude because they are songs, but for those who get them, understand my point of view here.

Another narrow path that can allow this pathway into the heart is through the scriptures. The living scriptures apply just as much today as they did yesterday and will tomorrow. Scriptures are studied, but sometimes, scriptures will speak to you in that way that the Spirit of love and gratitude fills you up. That is the inside job.

The last strait gate is that of prayer. And is how I received this confusing and weird view of this scripture in Matthew. And I know that Jesus had just started his ministry and is teaching on the mount. Lets look at it as if Christ is praying to the Spirit to find us.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)

The Passover is in remembrance of the night the Lord went through the city of Egypt and claimed the firstborn child of every man and beast. And He passed over the houses marked with the blood of the lamb. My unique view of this scripture is that of Christ calling out to the Spirit and telling him not to passover, but enter those who are marked by the blood. Enter into that narrow strait gate. Go and get them and give them life!

​I pray that through scripture, song and prayer that we are able to allow the Spirit to work in us. I pray a Spirit of love and gratitude over you. I pray that we each can develop an intimate relationship to God our father, Jesus his son through the companionship of the Holy Spirit. Open up your strait gate amd allow Him to guide you to the narrow places and to provide life giving love from the inside out.