2 Timothy 4:11-12 Can you forgive and move on?

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

2 Timothy 4:11-12 "Only Luke is me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus."

Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, traveled a lot with Paul. Tychicus had left for Ephesus and he was one of Paul's most trusted companions.

Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark makes us stop for a moment and reflect. Mark had left Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey and this upset Paul greatly. This cause a rift between Paul and Barnabas that was to the extent they parted company. Somewhere, in the course of time, Paul gave Mark a second chance and Mark had proved to be a worthy helper. What changed Paul's heart? We don't know, but Paul did realize people can change.

Here is the lesson we should take in. We must allow people to grow up and not hold them back from ministry or leadership for faults in the past that have now been corrected. When we encourage someone and open our minds to the possibility that he or she has changed and matured, we may be salvaging a significant ministry.

Mark went on not only to be Paul's good friend and a trusted Christian leader and he wrote the Gospel of Mark. If you were accountable and not forgiven for your past; where would you be? Billy Graham, as a young lad, was very mischievous; aren't we glad we didn't penalize him for past behaviors? Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny