Read the Word:
Mark 13:9-13
Meditate on the Word:
What kind of person must it take who would keep following a Lord who has promised persecution? One who, has not only told you that he is going to be killed in the most brutal and humiliating way possible, but that you are going to be arrested and beaten? Jesus is not saying maybe these things will happen. Instead, he tells them matter-of-factly that they will face beatings. He tells them of the necessity of what they will face in order to bring the gospel to all nations. He also tells them how to handle it, which is to not worry ahead of time what to say, but to rely on the Holy Spirit.
If there were ever a good time to decide that following Jesus was not worth it, this would have been it. Yet, hearing their Lord say these things, the disciples of Christ stayed with him. Knowing they would face persecution, they followed Jesus. Would we have stayed? I think that most of us would like to think we would, but maybe the way we live tells a different story. Do we follow Christ until He says something we don’t like? Do we draw the line at facing the pain of getting up on Sunday morning for church? Are we ok with following Jesus until it’s time to tell someone about Him? If we lack stamina and courage in these things, we certainly would not handle actual persecution well.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord to reveal your level of commitment to Him. Repent of any area in which you’re falling short.
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