John Bradshaw - Purpose of Heart
No one need turn back from following God, but of course, people do. It can be because of discouragement, the cares of the world, as Jesus said in the parable or because of what the book of Hebrews describes as "The pleasures of sin", such as they are.
When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, and what today is South Central Turkey, very close to Syria, the Bible says in Acts 11:23 that "He was glad, and exhorted them all, that with the purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord".
Barnabas did not seek Christianity as a lazy river, something you float down, meandering along. It takes the purpose of heart. That doesn't mean you have to be especially special, but it means you realize God is especially special. You can hang on to God, knowing that today he is hanging on to you, purposing your heart today to remain true to God. I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. Let's live today by Every Word.