Bring Mark with you

 
"Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (2Tim.4.11) 

I am not going to try to give the meaning of the name Mark, as I came up with several meanings as I checked. Some of the meanings I came across were "God of war, to be warlike, polite and shining, etc. But we will look at the symbolic mean as it relates to our discussion. 

The Apostle Paul has requested that Mark be brought to him because he is profitable for the ministry. You would remember that there was a time when Apostle Paul rejected Mark as he embarked on his second missionary journey with Barnabas. 

"And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; (Acts.15.37-39)

This means that the Apostle Paul was able to put aside personal opinions for the overall good of the ministry. He would not let his decisions yesterday impair his judgement today. 

It also means he knew when to put the resources at his disposal to good use. Mark may not have been a good fit then but he is now. This speaks to his flexibility as a leader and knowing when to put his feet down and when to be flexible. Not many leaders are good at this. Too many are fixed, too rigid, and used to route of same old, same old. 

Learn to adjust. Learn to forgive. Look at the big picture and not just personal convenience. Mark is profitable for the ministry 

Good day, 
Have a great day today, 
EmmA (aka Mr. Lift) 
@Liftemma

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