Strive for the narrow gate

Luke 13:24
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

Jesus calls for us to "strive" for the narrow gate while others simply "seek." The word strive here in the Greek is "agonizomai" from which we get our word "agonize." It literally means to fight or contend as in a battle or competition with strenuous zeal to achieve a desired goal. From an evangelical standpoint, this seems backward. Many strive by works to earn God's favor while He only calls us to by faith believe in and seek Him. So what are believers supposed to agonize over when it comes to the kingdom of heaven? I believe we are called here to fight against the tendency to broaden the road to heaven, to make excuses and exceptions to God's demands or to rely on works and other additions to our faith. The human temptation and tendency is to relax into comfort rather than contend for uncomfortable Truth. We must battle against lowering the bar, moving the target and watering down the Gospel. Our aim must be to enter into the kingdom of heaven by grace alone without exception or addition.

Father - strengthen me as I strive to hold true to the faith you require. Guard me from watering down the message or broadening the road. Let me be found faithful and worthy to enter by the narrow gate. Amen.