Making your paths Straight

                        Mat 7:13 ASV - Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.                                                                                           Greek: stenos  Narrow:    from a root sten--, seen in stenazo, "to groan," stenagmos, "groaning" (Eng., "stenography," lit., "narrow writing"), is used figuratively in Mat 7:13, 14, of the gate which provides the entrance to eternal life, "narrow" because it runs counter to natural inclinations, and "the way" is similarly characterized; so in Luk 13:24 (where the more intensive word agonizomai, "strive," is used); RV, "narrow" (AV, "strait") in each place. Cp. stenochoreo, "to be straitened," and stenochoria, "narrowness, anguish, distress."   
Mat 11:11 ASV - Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
 Mat 11:12 ASV - And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.  Violence   Greek: biazo  Press (Verb):
in the Middle Voice, "to press violently" or "force one's way into," is translated "presseth" in Luk 16:16, AV, RV, "entereth violently," a meaning confirmed by the papyri. Moulton and Milligan also quote a passage from D.S. Sharp's Epictetus and the NT, speaking of "those who (try to) force their way in;" the verb suggests forceful endeavor.   Jesus said this gospel will cost you everything in this world concerning your carnal living  .  There is a cross to bear for every child of God to cling to and hold fast the commandants of Christ .  This word violence is you getting on your cross just as Jesus did physically and you die spiritually to fleshly sins. 
Mat 7:14 ASV - For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.    Gate  metaphorically, of the "gates" at the entrances of the ways leading to life and to destruction .   Straitened is great pressure , to agonize "to press violently" or "force one's way into," is translated "presseth .  Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church . This violence is not speaking about evil men assaulting the church , Jesus said to love your enemy do good unto those that abuse you turn your cheek .    No this word violence is what happens when a man or women determines themselves to take up their cross and follow Jesus and death to their carnal mind.

 Rom 8:13 KJV - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Col 3:5 KJV - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
   Mortify   Greek: nekroo
Dead:
"to put to death," is used in the Active Voice in the sense of destroying the strength of, depriving of power, with reference to the evil desires which work in the body, Col 3:5. In the Passive Voice it is used of Abraham's body as being "as good as dead," Rom 4:19 with Hbr 11:12.
 And not many are willing to go all the way with Jesus , that is why he said many are called but few are chosen .      So we must go to the parable of the wedding feast ,
Greek: kletos  Call, Called, Calling:  invited (to a banquet)  invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ .  Called to the wedding feast of the Lamb .
Chosen  Greek: eklektos Elect, Elected, Election:  lit. signifies "picked out, chosen" (ek, "from," lego, "to gather, pick out"), and is used of
 Luk 12:49 ASV - I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
Greek: pur  Fire:    of the holiness of God, which consumes all that is inconsistent therewith, Hbr 10:27; 12:29; cp. Rev 1:14; 2:18; 10:1; 15:2; 19:12; similarly of the holy angels as His ministers, Hbr 1:7; in Rev 3:18 it is symbolic of that which tries the faith of saints, producing what will glorify the Lord;
 Luk 12:50 ASV - But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!             Baptism    Greek: baptisma Baptism, Baptist, Baptize:
"baptism," consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, "to dip"), is used  (a) of John's "baptism,"(b) of Christian "baptism," see B. below;
(c) of the overwhelming afflictions and judgments to which the Lord voluntarily submitted on the Cross, e.g., Luk 12:50;
(d) of the sufferings His followers would experience, not of a vicarious character, but in fellowship with the sufferings of their Master.
Straitened     Greek: sunecho  Anguish:
akin to A, No. 3, lit., "to hold together," is used physically of being held, or thronged, Luk 8:45; 19:43; 22:63; of being taken with a malady, Mat 4:24; Luk 4:38; Act 28:8; with fear, Luk 8:37; of being straitened or pressed in spirit, with desire, Luk 12:50; Act 18:5; Phl 1:23; with the love of Christ, 2Cr 5:14. In one place it is used of the stopping of their ears by those who killed Stephen.
Jesus is the pattern we are to follow ,  Jesus went to a physical cross ( Mercy ) and rose again, so we can die on our spiritual cross and rise with him to glory (Grace )     .   Jesus was the exact image of his father in character and his nature power and strength .    And he says that he has given to you everything necessary for Godly living .   
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.   
 Way     Greek: hodos Highway, Highwayside:
"a way, path, road," is rendered "highways" in Mat 22:10; Luk 14:23; in Mar 10:46, RV, "way side," AV, "highway side;" in Mat 22:9, the word is used with diexodoi ("ways out through"), and the phrase is rightly rendered in the RV, "the partings of the highways" (i.e., the crossroads), AV, "the highways."
Truth   Greek: aletheia  True, Truly, Truth:
where "the truth of God" may be "the truth concerning God" or "God whose existence is a verity;" but in Rom 15:8 "the truth of God" is indicative of His faithfulness in the fulfillment of His promises as exhibited in Christ; the word has an absolute force in Jhn 14:6; 17:17; 18:37, 38; in Eph 4:21, where the RV, "even as truth is in Jesus," gives the correct rendering, the meaning is not merely ethical "truth," but "truth" in all its fullness and scope, as embodied in Him; He was the perfect expression of the truth; this is virtually equivalent to His statement in Jhn 14:6;
Life    Greek: zoe    Life, Living, Lifetime, Life-Giving:
(Eng., "zoo," "zoology") is used in the NT "of life as a principle, life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself, Jhn 5:26, and which the Son manifested in the world, 1Jo 1:2. From this life man has become alienated in consequence of the Fall, Eph 4:18, and of this life men become partakers through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jhn 3:15, who becomes its Author to all such as trust in Him, Act 3:15, and who is therefore said to be 'the life' of the believer, Col 3:4, for the life that He gives He maintains, Jhn 6:35, 63. Eternal life is the present actual possession of the believer because of his relationship with Christ, Jhn 5:24; 1Jo 3:14, and that it will one day extend its domain to the sphere of the body is assured by the Resurrection of Christ, 2Cr 5:4; 2Ti 1:10. This life is not merely a principle of power and mobility, however, for it has moral associations which are inseparable from it, as of holiness and righteousness. Death and sin, life and holiness, are frequently contrasted in the Scriptures.
Gen 1:26 ASV - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 ASV - And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Col 1:15 ASV - who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
Greek: eikon  Image:
of man as he was created as being a visible representation of God, 1Cr 11:7, a being corresponding to the original; the condition of man as a fallen creature has not entirely effaced the "image;" he is still suitable to bear responsibility, he still has Godlike qualities, such as love of goodness and beauty, none of which are found in a mere animal; in the Fall man ceased to be a perfect vehicle for the representation of God; God's grace in Christ will yet accomplish more than what Adam lost;