"Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work." (Acts 15:37, 38)
I prayed Psalm 35 for President Trump early this morning. As I have watched/listened to the diabolical hatred for him, I thought of how some people see something others do not, sort of like in our text.
This week is the annual Army/Navy Game. I was invited to attend this great rivalry game as a recruit of Army in 1960. One of the recruiters introduced me to the Army head coach as "the best running back in the State of Pennsylvania." That was not true. If it had been, I would have been all state; I wasn't. The question to me was, and still is, What did he see in me that I didn't? Why did Michigan heavily recruit me and Penn State did not? The only answer I can come up with is that some saw something which others did not. Forgive me for this illustration, but there is a life lesson here which has intrigued me most of my life. It has more affect on us than most realize. Our text reveals this phenomenon.
Barnabas saw something in Mark which Paul did not. Later in Paul's life, however, he actually asks that Mark join him in, "the work." There is a great lesson here for all of us. Be careful how we judge. Now many will say, "O, I don't judge anyone." Right. Regardless, a glorious reality about our Lord Jesus Christ is that He saves us not because of our likeability, our gifts, our great personality, sense of humor, compassion, anointing, works, etc., etc., things by which far too many judge us, and thereby determine whether we are friend-worthy, or worthy period. Just think, for instance, how we choose friends. Yet in Jesus' Blood all who come to Jesus, "just as I am," are received by Jesus, "just as I am." This is not an excuse for our sin. This is an invitation to us to repent and receive Jesus just as we are, to become just as He is.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see in others what and the way You see. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
