It says that Paul and Barnabas exhorted the disciples to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Do we want an easy faith? A faith with no hardships, with no cost? There are many who preach such a form of Christianity today. They seem to forget that Jesus told us we need to pick up our cross daily. That doesn’t sound like a feel-good thing.
We continue with John’s vision of a new Jerusalem. But remember, like Paul, John reminded us last week, we need to be ready to undergo the tribulations of discipleship before we reap the rewards.
Jesus reminds us that people will know we are his disciples if we have love for one another. How are we doing? Do we love our neighbors? Do we love our enemies? Do we forgive those who persecute us? Do we willing suffer for the good of those we may not even like?
Countenance of God 