Daily Reading - "Take Mark...He Is Profitable...For The Ministry." 2 Timothy 4:11

Here is how it read today...

Tues. March 24
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"TAKE MARK...HE IS PROFITABLE...FOR THE MINISTRY." (2 TIMOTHY 4:11)
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Seeing others the right way

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When John Mark decided to take time off to visit his family, it didn't sit too well with Paul. Later when Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their next mission's trip, Paul exploded! "The contention became so sharp...they parted from one another...Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas" (Ac 15:38-40 NKJV). But the story doesn't end there. Later, an older and wiser Paul who had learned to add grace to his grit, writes, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...[so] Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Ti 4:10-11). There are three important lessons here for you:

.........(1) Always be willing to give someone a second chance. After all, that's what God does for you. Now in extending grace you can get hurt and disappointed, but if you're going to be Christ-like it's a risk you must take. (2) Don't measure everybody else by your standards and goals. The truth is, they may not be called to do what you're called to do. Or they may have been called to do it in a different way. Don't make your personal preferences a precondition for loving, accepting and working with someone. (3) When you look for the best in others you usually find it. The Bible says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2Co 4:7). So every time you meet the treasure you'll bump into the earthen vessel. Don't allow that to devalue the treasure, or your responsibility to look for it. Motivated people will rise to meet your expectations.