{"id":738,"date":"2011-07-16T19:00:43","date_gmt":"2011-07-16T23:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/smalltownamerica\/?p=738"},"modified":"2012-07-10T01:55:03","modified_gmt":"2012-07-10T05:55:03","slug":"the-straight-and-narrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/smalltownamerica\/2011\/07\/the-straight-and-narrow.html","title":{"rendered":"The Straight and Narrow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This is a picture of the narrow, one lane road that runs by the Hanny homestead about five miles outside of Fremont, OH.\u00a0 You can&#8217;t get two cars on it at the same time without one going off into the grass.\u00a0 Also, there are many things to distract you as you drive or walk down this road.\u00a0 You might see all kinds of birds or butterflies.\u00a0 You might see raccoons, squirrels, or even deer.\u00a0 All of these things are nice to see and can take your attention away from the narrow road.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/smalltownamerica\/files\/2011\/11\/IMG_0314.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-741\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/259\/2011\/11\/IMG_0314-253x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"253\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a>Matthew 7:13-14 tells us, &#8221; Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are which go in there.\u00a0 Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>We have all heard people say, &#8220;You must walk the straight and narrow way.&#8221;\u00a0 It is because of this scripture.\u00a0 Indeed, it is easier to waver or become distracted on a wider path, both spiritually and in the natural.\u00a0 We each must choose which path we will take, but it is clear which path God desires us to take.<\/p>\n<p>The broader path gives one much more &#8220;wiggle room&#8221;,\u00a0 More opportunity to compromise our beliefs.\u00a0 All this extra freedom makes it harder to stay focused on the things of God.\u00a0 We all occasionally slip off the straight and narrow and wander onto the broad path.\u00a0 The trick is to see it for what it is and be swift to correct the problem.<\/p>\n<p>The straight and narrow path really does keep us out of a lot of trouble.\u00a0 It may take a more diligent driver to stay on the narrow path, but the benefits far out weigh the challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a picture of the narrow, one lane road that runs by the Hanny homestead about five miles outside of Fremont, OH.\u00a0 You can&#8217;t get two cars on it at the same time without one going off into the grass.\u00a0 Also, there are many things to distract you as you drive or walk down&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":420,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,14],"tags":[42,11],"class_list":["post-738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement","category-inspiration","tag-choices","tag-convictions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - 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