Matthew 7:13-14–“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

We can all think of many ways life can be difficult, from financial and health issues, to relationships and job stressors.  So there is a constant temptation to seek our own comfort in the midst of living our natural lives…
So when we hear Jesus make a call for us to live in a way that “is hard that leads to life”, such a call doesn’t sound appealing considering how hard life can be in general.  So naturally the easy way is what anyone would choose when it comes to being practical…
From this passage, the easy way that leads to destruction is a life focused on ourselves and doing whatever we desire.  It’s a practical way of life that makes decisions according to what is most comfortable, exchanging faithfulness to Christ for how we want to define “life”.  So the question is, what makes the narrow gate appealing enough to strive against the “easy” wide road of destruction?  (John 8:31-32)
As Christians our relationship with Christ comes from being saved by grace through faith.  Trusting Christ daily empowers us by grace, to fight against what we would naturally choose to live by (ease).  So if we are to choose the narrow road that is hard, it must come from a grace-driven love to desire Christ and find supernatural life in Him. (Luke 9:23, Ephesians 2:8-10)
Much like any relationship, there are times we naturally rather live for ourselves, which is easier and comfortable for us individually, but destructive to the relationship ultimately.  So a love fueled by God’s grace is hard, because of the discipline it takes to forgo selfishness, to speak the truth in love that may offend, and be humiliated while pursuing peace.  All of that is hard, but by His grace it leads to true life. (John 14:6)
The hard path is what Christ chose to give us life, so He desires us to choose the “narrow path”, that we suffer with Him so we can reign with Him. (Romans 8:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:11-13)-In His Love, Ld