If most professing Christians were asked to describe their Christian walk and relationship with God, some words you would most likely not hear are words such as laborious, a struggle, straining, agonizing or exertion. While a personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ does produce indescribable joy and peace and a number of other fruit, Jesus himself calls us to a life full of labor.
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24
In the verse above Jesus commands his followers to strive to enter the narrow door. The word he uses in this sentence is where the English word agonize is derived from. The definition is literally to compete, exert oneself, persevere, straining every nerve to obtain the object. Just as an athlete trains their entire body and mind, making sacrifices no one else will, pushing themselves, making every effort to obtain victory, so also Jesus calls every one of his followers to do the same.
Striving is thriving?
We read stories of faithful saints who have gone on before us and admire their faith, devotion, prayer life and good works. But how little we realize the agonizing hours they spent studying the scriptures, on their knees seeking the Lord, outrageous sacrifices they made in order to accomplish the works that God had them to do. We tend to think that their life with the Savior just happened by chance.
How frustrated we get with the ups and downs of our devotion. Our times of prayer are nonexistent or nowhere near where they should be, our knowledge of God is so small. We wonder how our minds and hands can wander off into so much idleness and evil, we are stumped at the fact that there is no love for the one who died for us in our hearts. But how much striving are we doing in our relationship? How much effort, exertion and priority are we giving the creator and lover of our souls? Are we really straining every nerve to enter the narrow gate as Jesus said?
Over and over we see this command throughout the New Testament.
“Let us strive to enter that rest” (Heb. 4:11.)
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12.)
“Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish and at peace” (2 Pet. 3:14.)
“Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life you were called to” (1 Tim. 6:12.)
“For to this end we toil and strive because we have set our hope on the living God” (1 Tim. 4:10.)
These are just a few examples of many calling us to a life of discipline and devotion.
Take Inventory
Maybe this is a good time for us to take a long hard look at our lives, really take inventory of our priorities. Are we truly striving and making every effort to enter that narrow door? What is preoccupying our minds and taking them off of the One who is upholding the universe? Why is our prayer and study time so sporadic and little? Jesus calls us to total devotion, not in order to gain salvation or to make him happy with us. But to be devoted, disciplined and striving out of our love for him, because he first loved us.