Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4:11

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Timothy 4:11     Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.     Paul especially mentioned Mark, who is the cousin of the apostle Barnabas, and also the coworkero f Paul and Barnabas in their first missionary journey. However, in the middle of that journey, maybe due to his young age and the hardships he experienced, Mark beat the drums of retreat and went back. At the time, Paul was very angry, even keeping it in his heart. When it was time for the second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark, but Paul immediately opposed him, even to the point of parting ways with Barnabas. They both brought someone to go on separate journeys. Barnabas is truly a person with the spiritual gift of encouragement. In the church we not only need the gifts of teaching and preaching, but even more we need people with the spiritual gift of encouragement, people who know how to support and help those who are weak and know how to give people a second chance. That's why Barnabas brought Mark along, and as a result Mark was used by God. In the end, even Paul acknowledged that Mark is helpful to him.     This Mark is the writer of the Gospel of Mark. Thank God. God is willing and pleased to give people second chances. No matter how many time you have experienced failures and setbacks, even discouragements and disappointments in your life, God will never forsake you. He is willing and pleased to give you a second chance. Truthfully in my own life, I have experienced so much grace, not only a second chance, but a third, and a fourth chance. God's grace is truly more than all we ask or imagine. On the other hand, since God is so gracious to us, should we not be gracious to the people around us? When someone says, "Oh, that person is just like that!" What that person is implying is that even God can't change this person. In reality, God has not completed his work in the person's life. How can you or I know God can't turn the person around? May God grant us a gracious heart towards each other. Especially in the church, let us through a loving heart support and help those who are weak and through gentleness bring back those who have stumbled.     The Lord says the healthy do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. Yet the Lord came to be the substitute for our weakness, to bear our sickness and disease. Maybe in your life there are many Marks. May the Lord help us to be an encourager. Maybe even you are a Mark. May God help you not to be discouraged and to lose hope. Come back before him once again. If Mark can experience stumbling and later be used by God, in the same way you only need to turn around and come back before God and God can use you in the same way as well.                                                       Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I pray especially for every brother and sister who have experienced failure, weakness, and stumbling. In the victorious name of Jesus, I rebuke the spirit of depression and discouragement inside them. I ask the Lord to help them stand up once again and be instruments used by you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!