Text: 2 Timothy 4:9-13
Memory verse:
”Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.“
II Timothy 4:11 NKJV
I once read that billionaire J. D. Rockefeller remarked that he won’t employ someone who hasn’t failed. His reason was that such persons haven’t learned, and that can be more damaging. Today, let’s study the life of John Mark to see how failure can bring you valuable lessons of life.
John Mark was so prominent in the early church that his house was always a meeting place for prayer (Acts 12:11-13). Paul and Barnabas brought him to join them on their way during their first missionary journey. However, after going together to Antioch and Cyrus, John Mark decided to leave them after sailing to Perga and went back to Jerusalem (Acts 13:1-5, 13). Paul obviously felt disappointed for his failure. He quit when the going got tough. His action wasn’t honorable. Thus, when Barnabas later suggested that they take John Mark along during their second missionary journey, Paul sternly disagreed, and that brought the separation of Paul and Barnabas and the end of a long standing relationship! (Acts 15:36-41).
However, many years later, when Paul was in prison, he wrote a letter to the church at Colosse, “Aristarchus is in jail with me. He sends greetings to you, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have already been told to welcome Mark, if he visits you.” (Col 4:10). Did you see this? What changed a once dishonorable person to become so honorable? He also wrote to Timothy, ”Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.“ (II Tim 4:11). This young man who previously disappointed Paul had now become a source of great comfort to him. He, who was a cause of division, now became a “fellow worker.” (Col. 4:10-11). It’s clear that John Mark learned lessons from his failure.
Friends, look at these rules of being humans someone once wrote. Firstly, you will learn lessons. Secondly, there are no mistakes – only lessons. Thirdly, a lesson is repeated until learned. Fourthly, if you don’t learn the easy lessons, they get harder. Lastly, you will know you have learned when your actions change. May you not miss the lessons of failures in Jesus’ name.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me never to miss the lessons of my mistakes and failures, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I receive wisdom to make necessary changes from the lessons of my failures, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I will learn from the easy lessons now lest God get my attention through more painful experiences.
2. I will not allow my mistakes to define me, but I will learn from them and move on.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng