Luke 13: 22 And Jesus said, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you will try to enter and will not be able to."
On our farm there were many lessons that came to life each day for a young boy. One of my memories was the job of weaning calves from their mothers.
Oftentimes, we needed milk from the cows, so when a calf was three days old we would separate the cow from her calf and begin to feed it a special diet milk product through a bucket. I would mix the powder with warm water and then take the bucket to the barn. Since three-day old calves don't know how to drink from a bucket, I would set it in front of the calf, squat down, and stick my fingers into the mix.
At first the calf would just want to play, so I would get a little of the mixture in my palm and press the milk against its lips. Once the calf tasted the sweet fluid, I would dip my fingers into the bucket and then stick them into the calf's mouth. After about a dozen tries, the calf would begin drinking directly from the bucket. The calves quickly learned what the bucket in the stall was all about, and ran into the barn as soon as they heard me open the main door.
On the farm we had calves of all ages, but we only wanted to bucket feed the newborns. So my dad cut an opening in the stall door that was just large enough for the little calves to enter but too small for the bigger cattle. Since all the calves, both large and small, had gotten a taste of the sweet milk during the weaning process, it was comical to watch the larger ones try to get through the small door.
They had grown too large for calf milk and needed to be on solid food.In our lives, we often experience the salvation, grace, and love which the Lord offers, but never take the time to pray, read the scripture, or do the things that bring about spiritual maturity and a close walk with the Lord. While many others have tasted the love, grace, and power which the Lord provides, but have never taken the time to develop a deep relationship with Him. Instead of following Christ's teachings and exercising love, forgiveness, patience, and peace, they have opted for what the world offers and get their "milk" doses from a Tweet or a once a week message at church or on the Internet. In doing so, they pass by the small gate but are so hungry for something more.