Daily Reading: Mark 3:13-19

If you’ve ever hiked a mountain, gone for a walk uphill, or even climbed several flights of stairs, you realize pretty quickly how “in shape” you actually are… and sometimes, if you’re like me, when the climb begins to shine a spotlight on your overall lack of conditioning, you might be tempted to turn back - or at very least, take the elevator!

Like it or not uphill moments show us a few things - they teach us where we’re weak, and they give us an opportunity to grow, if we will press through them…

Spiritually speaking, uphill moments are those times that try our faith - those things we go through that show our conditioning. They are the moments that if we press through them - even when it’s hard - we’ll find a reward on the other side. When Jesus called his disciples to the top of a mountain, they had no idea the uphill moments they would eventually face - trials & persecution, even betrayal and martyrdom.

All they knew was that Jesus was calling them…

He wanted them to be with Him…

And their reward was knowing Him deeper and partnering with Him in the Great Commission!

And so, they chose to follow the example of the One who would face the ultimate uphill moment - on His way to the cross.

Truthfully, it is the uphill moments with Jesus that separate the half-hearted follower from the true disciple, and I hope we can climb together on our journey to the top!