Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Patience”
Our Bible verse for today: “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.” Acts 15:39 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Be patient with people.”
People are fallible. We make mistakes, we make bad choices, and often we’re our own worst enemies. Sometimes we’re just young and foolish and make immature decisions. Other times we’re older and should know better, but we screw it up anyway. Fortunately our God is a God of second chances, and third, and fourth, and ….
Barnabas was a young man who was given the golden opportunity to travel with, and minister alongside of, the Apostle Paul and Barnabas. But, he blew it. We don’t know exactly what happened but apparently things got a little tough and Mark wasn’t up to it, so he left and went home. Later, when it was time for another mission trip, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them again but Paul said “no”. Evidently Mark wanted a second chance but Paul wouldn’t give it to him. However Barnabas did give him a second chance. Barnabas parted ways with Paul, took Mark on their own little mission trip to Cyprus, and it turned out to be just the thing Mark needed. Mark ended up becoming a great man of God in his own right, he wrote one of the four Gospels, and in his later years Paul even admitted that Mark had turned into a valuable ministry partner. Thank God for second chances.
Jesus gave Peter a second chance and look at what that resulted in! Paul stuck with the young man Timothy, even though he was timid and lacked self-confidence, and ultimately Timothy ended up becoming a leading pastor in his region. The Old Testament prophet Elijah patiently worked with the impetuous young man Elisha and eventually Elisha became a powerful prophet too.
The editors of “The Mission of God” study Bible offer this helpful insight about sticking with, mentoring, and giving people second chances:
“I believe in you.” Perhaps some of the most powerful words we can say to someone. These four simple words evoke confidence and anticipation in all that a person can and will become by God’s grace and power. If you have ever had the privilege of someone uttering those words to you, you know the emotion it evokes. They inspire you to become all God wants you to become.”
You’ve probably seen the old bumper sticker that reads, “Be patient. God isn’t done with me yet.” There’s a lot of wisdom and truth in that. God isn’t done with any of us yet. We will all make mistakes and we will all find ourselves in need of second, third, fourth, and tenth chances. The truth is that we need to be patient with each other.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 