My little addition to Our Daily Bread (9/4/11):
Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. …
At my first defense, no one came to my assistance, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.
(2 Timothy 4:11, 16 HCSB)
The lesson for my adult Bible Study class this morning is about the importance of the community of believers and it starts with this great quote: “Your faith is personal. It was never meant to be private.” In lessons last month, we remembered how John (aka Mark) choosing not to continue with Paul and Barnabas on their journey (Acts 13:13) caused a division in the mission team when Paul thought he should not be invited on a later journey (Acts15:37-40). Now nearing the end of his days and feeling “deserted” again, Paul asks Timothy to hurry and to be sure to bring Mark. In light of Joe Stowell’s comments in today’s ODB, it is amazing how for even the “great men of faith,” some of the things that we thought monumentally important that caused rifts in our relationships in the past look like anthills in hindsight. Oh for the wisdom to see more of the sand piles for what they are from the beginning.
- Andy
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