The person you have rejected today may become tomorrow’s useful servant in the hands of God!
Just for your thoughts.
“Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
— 2 Timothy 4:11
Paul, knowing that he was facing death and counting his final days in prison, wrote these final words to Timothy.
This was the same Paul who, when Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them on their missionary journey, strongly objected, saying that because Mark had deserted them during the first journey and had not continued with them in the work, he should not be taken along with them again.
But now, look at the change that had taken place in Paul’s heart!
If you have been hurt by someone, remember that person and entrust him to the Lord. The person whom you once rejected may become a useful instrument in the Lord’s work. Therefore, do not hold on to the failures of the past.
Consider the change in Mark’s life.
When Mark was first given an opportunity to serve, he failed to continue with Paul and Barnabas. Because of this, Paul did not want to take him along on the second missionary journey. Yet, after many years, Paul writes:
“Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
There are some lessons we need to learn from this:
1. Even though someone may have been a great failure in the past, we cannot conclude that he will always remain a failure.
2. We must not keep the mistakes and failures of others in our minds forever.
3. When we give people another opportunity to serve the Lord, God can use them again and make them useful in His work.
Paul’s earlier disagreement with Mark, his separation from Barnabas, his choice of Silas, and the subsequent spiritual development of Mark—all these became part of God’s purpose. If Paul had refused to give Mark another opportunity, how could we have received this important testimony about Mark?
Paul himself says that Mark had now become “useful to me for ministry.”
The person whom you may have considered a failure may one day become a valuable servant of God.
Who knows? The person you have rejected today may become tomorrow’s useful servant in the hands of God!
This is my perspective.
Ezekiel Shanmugavel