THE COST OF THE CAUSE

PRAYER JOURNAL 10/6/18

2 Timothy 2:3-4 you therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

I am currently reading a book on George and Martha Washington and the Revolutionary War.  I am in awe of the brave men, their wives and children that risked everything to fight for freedom from tyranny; for the right to make the best choices for their families.  The bleak picture of the cold winter, bleak living conditions, lack of food and clothing is but a small glimpse into the hardships they were willing to suffer for the cause.

THEN…

I turn on the news and see young men and women dressed in designer clothing, holding their I-phones high, occupying the halls of government, chanting and yelling obscenities at elected officials and I wonder…

What if we had to fight for our freedom today?  Who would be willing to sacrifice all and live in deplorable conditions; to fight for the right to assemble inside the Capital, the right to hold signs and yell obscenities at the people they have the freedom to elect; the freedom to earn the money to purchase the designer clothes and cell phones…the COURAGE to say “GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!”

Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.  They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

I look at the cost of my Salvation…Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice so I could be free from the bondage of sin.  And He had an army of men and women that were willing to sacrifice all for the sake of the Gospel.  Willing to live in deplorable conditions, destitute and hungry, wearing the skins of animals, risking their lives to pass the Gospel down through generations until one day you and I could have the opportunity to be saved.

And I Wonder….

If the Day of Pentecost had happened in an Upper Room in the middle of the United States in 2018, would we deem it eventful enough for even one chapter in a book? 

First who would be willing to gather and wait for 10 days without cell phones, delivered meals, Netflix and Sunday football….JUST PRAYER AND WAITING FOR A PROMISE!  Then the last few who waited would run to their Face book page, post a selfie with an update and possibly a scripture, pat themselves on the back for “doing” ministry and get back to their important life. 

GOD MAY NOT BE ASKING YOU TO LIVE IN CAVES, WEAR ANIMAL SKINS OR RISK YOUR LIFE BUT HE DOES REQUIRE YOU TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CAUSE!

What is God calling you to?  What sacrifices is He asking you to make?  Perhaps it is something as simple as giving up some personal time to minister to a hurting soul. Or using your talent to point to Jesus and glorify Him.  Has God blessed you with finances…God’s blessing isn’t just to provide you with a luxurious life, you have been blessed to be a blessing; to spread the Gospel; to help someone in need.  What would you be willing to risk to break the Tyranny of Sin that has your loved ones so bound?

COULD YOU WAIT WITH HIM JUST ONE HOUR…IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?