Sometimes You Must Turn Sideways.

Over the past three months, since the accident, I have moved around my house with the assistance of walker. There are different size doorways that exit the den where I spend most of my time. In order to maneuver through the narrowest of these doorways, I must turn sideways to accommodate the walker. No amount of pushing would enable me to go in straight because the walker is simply too wide. So each time I approach this door, I turn sideways and take several sideways steps.
This has now become a part of the routine. Yet still, every once in a while, I will find myself standing at the threshold of the door needing to remember to turn and enter. It is almost more difficult to remember the process when I am also going in and out of a wider door that does not require any special movements.
We are shown clearly by Jesus that the gate that leads to the kingdom of heaven is narrow. “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.” (Matthew 7:13 AMP) This verse emphatically states that we are to enter through this gate. There is no allotment for the difficulty of the process. Concerning those who are rich in worldly possessions, Jesus also stated, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven. When the disciples heard this, they were utterly puzzled (astonished, bewildered), saying, Who then can be saved [from eternal death]? But Jesus looked at them and said, with men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.” (Matthew 19:24-26 AMP) God makes all things possible for all of us if we are open and obedient to His leading.
At another time Jesus called Himself the door to the sheepfold. “So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them. I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. (John 10:7-9 AMP) We can be assured that Jesus is providing direction. He speaks and we, His sheep, hear Him. “The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 AMP)
We follow Jesus by living as He did. In order to walk as He walked we cannot always move straight ahead. Jesus did not put Himself first and neither can we. He led by being a servant to all. “And whoever wishes to be most important and first in rank among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for (instead of) many.” (Mark 10:44-45 AMP) Beyond simple service we are called to truly love, even at the cost of our own desires. “This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.” (John 15:12-14 AMP) We sacrifice yet we are God’s friends.
There are many examples of laying down our lives provided in scripture. “But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]. To the one who strikes you on the jaw or cheek, offer the other jaw or cheek also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold your undergarment as well.” (Luke 6:27-29 AMP) In a world where getting even with those who have wronged you, these directions can sure seem sideways. Yet to enter the narrow gate, we must rely on God’s strength and guide our lives by these principles.
Living a sideways style life is encouraged throughout the New Testament letters. Paul wrote, “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].” (Philippians 2:3 AMP) James stated, “But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].” (James 1:22 AMP) Peter commanded, “[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.” (1 Peter 1:14-15 AMP) All are encouraging us to do whatever is necessary to enter through the narrow gate.

Does what God is requiring of you feel a bit sideways? Take courage, rely on Him and obey. To walk through the narrow gate, sometimes you must turn sideways.