I asked yesterday what your first point of call was whenever there was trouble and we emphasized the importance of prayer. I have a few more today; are you willing to follow the Lord no matter what comes? Are you a fair-weather believer or a genuine or true believer? In Acts chapter 13, John Mark abandoned his mentors; Barnabas and Paul at the first sign of trouble. "Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services.
Acts of the Apostles 13:13-14 NLT. The trouble involving Elymas the sorcerer and the government official was enough for John Mark to reconsider his resolve. As soon as they outlined the territories they still wanted to visit, he bailed on them. Are you a fair-weather believer like John Mark? Following Jesus, standing for your resolve as a Christian can sometimes come at a price. It did for Paul and Barnabas. "They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." Our hardship is not was qualifies us for the kingdom, don't make that mistake, Jesus is the one who does.. Our hardship however are proofs we belong to him. If Jesus is our Lord and we serve at his pleasure, then we must be ready for whatever the Lord asks for us to do.
My charge today is; are you willing and ready to follow Jesus and at any cost? Are you willing to serve the Lord whatever comes your way?
