Daily Light - April 19, 2011

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for the ministry."

2 Timothy 4:11

Irreparable. That is the way that many would have described Paul's relationship with John Mark at one time. Paul and Barnabas took John Mark on their first missionary journey, and for some reason John Mark couldn't make it and left them to return home. Paul had no time for people who couldn't stick it out. They were entering new places all of the time, and they needed each other. If someone didn't understand that, they were just not aware of the gravity of the situation. When the time came for Paul and Barnabas to head out on their next expedition, John Mark showed up with his suitcase at the invitation of Barnabas. Paul was flabbergasted and refused to allow him to go. The situation eventually divided the team of Paul and Barnabas. Surely John Mark and Paul would hold this against each other for the rest of their lives. However, now we read in Ephesians that Paul is literally requesting the presence of John Mark, and he describes him as helpful to him. What changed?

There are many individuals today that have strained relationships with people that they once greatly loved. At one time, these individuals could not have imagined a day much less years where they would not be an integral part of the other person's life. They believed that they would be there for each other to laugh together in the good times and weep in the bad times. Then, something changed all of that. Whether it was an offense, a misunderstanding, or a disagreement, it severely divided this seemingly unshakeable relationship. One or both parties may have made an attempt to work things out, but things didn't just seem to ever come together. Now, this relationship is irreconcilable. Or is it?

There are many keys to bringing a relationship back together, but the terms used to do that are words that we do not often like to hear. Words like humility and forgiveness are usually not the first terms that we would use to describe how we handle relationships, but they are absolutely necessary. Perhaps there is a face or name that springs to your mind when you think of an irreparable relationship. What are you doing to bring peace and bring two of God's children back together? Many will say that they are waiting for the other person to take the first step. One Christian author says that is always the mature one that takes the first step. Is that you?

May you discover peace in spite of trouble today!