Whatever it Takes

Have you ever tried to go somewhere, but it was so packed you couldn’t even make it in?

That was the experience of the four men in Mark 2 while they were attempting to carry their friend to Jesus. The way of thinking of those four men was, “Whatever it takes!” They refused to quit on their friend!

If you’re going to be effective in leading people to Christ, you'll need to develop this mentality of "whatever it takes," too.

The truth is, if any place is going to be packed, it should be the house of God. If we are truly serious about the mandate that Jesus gave to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel,” then it's time to pack the house!

When the men arrived, finding themselves unable to take their paralyzed friend into the packed house, they didn't turn back or tell their friend in need he was just going to have to wait another day. No—they engaged their faith and only grew more determined to get the friend to Jesus.

I wonder what your life would look like if, instead of getting discouraged, you got more determined. At the end of the story, the men actually climbed up onto the roof— their paralyzed friend laying on the mat— and began digging out the top! That's right. Nothing was going to stop them; they actually tore the roof off someone's house to get their friend to Jesus! They didn’t care about the cost or what anyone would think; they were determined to see their friend heal, no matter what it took—they had a “whatever it takes” mindset.

Due to the persistence of his friends, this paralyzed man not only received forgiveness but was completely healed! Jesus noted these four men and their faith. Jesus saw their faith and their determination to do whatever it took to see their friend encounter Christ.

Step out and share your faith today! Refuse to make any excuse of why you aren't reaching people. Develop a "whatever it takes" mentality and "pack the house" with those yet to know Him!