Hope for quitters

Image: Pixabay

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 15:36-41

TO CHEW ON: “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

A disagreement over taking John Mark with them (Paul and Barnabas) on Paul’s second trip resulted in a split. Paul went with Silas to Syria and Cilicia while Barnabas and his cousin John Mark sailed to Cyprus.

We might view this as a blot on the church’s history. It’s what so easily happens when leaders have different styles and they clash. Barnabas’s style was encouragement. He had launched Paul himself into ministry. Paul seems to have been more idealistic (You never quit) and practical (We don’t want quitters on this trip!).

But it seems that it all worked out for the good. Though Barnabas is never again mentioned in Acts, Paul’s letters speak of John Mark as a co-worker, testimony to the wisdom of giving him this second chance (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24). In addition, John Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark (scholars date its writing sometime after the deaths of Peter and Paul—65-70 A.D.).

My Bible’s introductory notes to Mark’s Gospel make this observation about the book:

“Mark’s Gospel teaches that the life of discipleship means following Jesus along the same path of misunderstanding and rejection that He encountered. For followers of Jesus in all ages the warning and promise are sure: ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it’ - Mark 8:34,35)” - J. Lyle Story, Introduction to Mark, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1347 (emphasis added).

Perhaps Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ self-denial message was birthed by his disappointment in himself when he refused to deny himself and quit. Sometimes our most positive life lessons begin with a negative experience.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for using even the bad things on our resumés by redeeming them for good (Romans 8:28). Amen.

 *********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Are you a quitter?

Barnabas & Paul disagree - Artist unknown

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Acts 13:13-26

TO CHEW ON: "Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John departing from them, returned to Jerusalem." Acts 13:13

Have you ever been a quitter? I have. It's not a good feeling when you're in the middle of it, and the fact that you've quit can come back to bite you.

Here Luke slips into his story, almost like an aside, the fact that John (John Mark - Acts 15:37) leaves their ministry party at this time—no reason given. Later, how significant a fact it becomes when, on the next missionary jaunt Barnabas wants to take John Mark with them again but Paul refuses (Acts 15:37-38).

Both dig in their heels, a rift develops, and one missionary team becomes two as Barnabas takes Mark and they sail to Cypress while Paul finds Silas to accompany him through Syria and Cilicia.

The Bible isn't kind to quitters. Some things it says to those with such an attitude:

• Jesus says the person "…having put his hand to the plow, and looking back…") is not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

• In another place He talks about how impossible it is to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

• Paul describes those driven by doubt as "tossed to and fro and carried about…" (Ephesians 4:14).

• James uses the same sea metaphor and calls doubters "double-minded" (James 1:6,8).

So what if we've quit. Have we blown our whole lives?

Not necessarily. There was another chance for John Mark. In the end, the fallout between Paul and Barnabas resulted in two missionary parties going out. And this was the Mark who later wrote Gospel of Mark.

We may not be able to undo our giving up but we can learn from it:

- The importance of perseverance.

- The importance of relying on God and not ourselves when we're tempted to give up (James 4:8).

- The fact that with God in the equation, nothing is too hard: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

PRAYER: Dear God, please alert me to attitudes that precede quitting, like self-pity, comparing myself to others, laziness… Help me to remember that with You I can do anything You ask. Amen. 

 *********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Encouragement to quitters

"Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem" - Artist unknown

From Treasures of the Bible (Captivity and Return)

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Zechariah 4:1-5:4

TO CHEW ON: " 'The hands of Zerubbabel
Have laid the foundation of this temple,
His hands also shall finish it.
Then you will know
That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.' " Zechariah 4:9

You will recall that Zechariah was prophesying to exiles who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. They had begun rebuilding the temple but due to opposition, discouragement, and distraction had abandoned the job.

Zechariah's vision and words concern Zerubbabel—the governor—who had begun the build but quit midway through. The Message Bible puts our focus verse in everyday language:

"'Zerubbabel started rebuilding this temple and he will complete it. That will be Your confirmation that the God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you' " Zechariah 4:9 MSG.

In addition to this encouraging prophecy to quitter / procrastinator Zerubbabel, two other thoughts from our reading jump out at me. To Zerubbabel and all of us who are tempted to quit or lay aside the assignments we've been given, I believe God would say:

1. "For who has despised the day of small things…" - Zechariah 4:10.

Don't judge the worth of a project by its small beginnings or its humble originator. There are no small jobs or insignificant people in God's family. I'm reminded of Paul's picture of the church as a body with no part more important than any other (1 Corinthians 12:12-24).

Leslyn Musch says of this verse in her "Truth-In-Action Through Zechariah" article: "Give yourself wholeheartedly to the things that God is asking you to do, and trust that He will bless. … Remember as you are faithful with little, God will entrust you with more  (Matthew 25:21)" - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1265.

2. " 'Not by might or by power but by My Spirit,' says the Lord" - Zechariah 4:6

We can't do these things on our own. If ours are God-given assignments, we need His help to complete them and fit them into His grand design.

Musch again: "Ask God to fill you to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. The picture given is of an endless supply of oil representing the Holy Spirit" - Op. Cit, p. 1264.

PRAYER: Dear God, where I have given up or postponed doing those things You have asked of me, please forgive me. Help me to apply to these tasks these encouraging words of their significance and Your help. Amen.

 *********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

One secret of self-denial

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - Artist unknown

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Mark 9:38-50

TO CHEW ON: " ' If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off … And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off … And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…' " Mark 9:43,45,47.

Yikes, it sounds like Jesus is talking about self-mutilation here! But I don't believe He means for us to actually slice ourselves apart—not, at least, if we take to heart the meaning of His message. He's talking about the need for self-denial that's so important, so necessary, it warrants extreme measures.

I'm reminded of a passage I came across in the last few days in a book I'm reading:

"There is but one check that provides the balance to all appetites. It's the word we'd rather not agree to, at least push as far to the side as we can—'self denial.' But without self-denial, every eater is a glutton, every earner a larcenist, every lover is a rapist. So at the outset of our call to follow Jesus is his entreaty—stern yet beautiful—'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' - Luke 9:23 KJV" - Calvin Miller, Into the Depths of God, Kindle Location (KL) 165.

Miller goes on to elaborate on the challenges of self-denial. One he brings up is the tendency we have to focus on what we have to give up—to quit. It could be a lot of things: that third piece of cake our hand reaches for; that party our feet would take us to; that movie we can't take our eyes away from.

Miller says, "So then, why don't we do it— why don't we deny ourselves? We fail at self-denial for three reasons. First, our focus is usually on the braking system rather than the steering wheel" - KL 169. (And you'll have to get the book to find out what the other two are.)

And here is Miller's solution for that braking vs. steering focus:

"… I needed to quit quitting. Quitting involves a cathexis that is focused on what or what not to quit. Those who focus on Christ rarely have to quit anything because their desire for union with Christ prohibits them from starting anything they might later want to quit" - KL 243.

Now there's a challenge to take up: start to focus on Christ—His excellence, His example, His friendship, the well-being of an intimate relationship with Him … I'm reminded of the words of the old hymn:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace." - Helen H. Lemmel 1922 (public domain)


PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to take my focus off what I need to quit and keep my eyes on You today. Amen.

 *********
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.