Disciple Maker

August 5

(Acts 16:1-3 NIV) "He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. {2} The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. {3} Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Paul didn’t just take his salvation and run. He didn’t just “pray the prayer” and continue living like he did before. His salvation was more than just fire insurance. Paul became a disciple, and then became a disciple-maker. He became a follower, and then produced more followers. He obeyed the Great Commission, which is a command of Christ. Paul was a leader, and he produced leaders. Silas and Timothy learned to follow Jesus by following Paul. He did not invite Silas and Timothy to become students -- he called them to become disciples. The two are not necessarily the same thing. A disciple is more than just a learner -- he is a follower, an adherent, and an imitator. The goal of a disciple is not just to know what the teacher knows, but to live like the teacher lives. We should be good disciples, but in time, we should become disciple- makers. Are you a disciple-maker? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Failure is Never Final

August 4

(Acts 15:39b-41 NIV) “Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, {40} but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. {41} He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

(1 Peter 5:12-13 NIV) “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. {13} She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.”

There is no doubt that Mark failed in his younger days. The biblical record is clear. But he wasn’t content to be known as a failure. Mark kept working at the faith. Over time he became a “go- to guy” in the church, and ended up writing one of the four gospels that we read today. This young man who bailed out early in his spiritual walk, ended up on the “A-List” of major apostles. Mark not only ended up on Paul’s list of friends, he became like a son to Peter. Perhaps Peter identified with Mark, as he also had a notorious failure in his past. If anyone understood overcoming failure, it would have been Peter. Failure is never final! It wasn’t for Peter. It wasn’t for Mark. And it need not be for you. The only way that failure is ever final is if you quit. Don’t do that! Don’t miss what God has for you down the road. If you have stumbled, get back up. Run again. Finish the race. Don’t give up! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Time Heals

August 3

(Acts 15:37-39a NIV) “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, {38} but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. {39} They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.”

(Philemon 1:23-24 NIV) "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. {24} And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers."

(2 Timothy 4:11 NIV) "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."

The passage of time can soften anger and heal wounds. Things that once seemed so important can seem trivial years later. This happened with Mark and Paul. Mark, who had caused a split between Paul and Barnabas, became someone Paul wanted by his side -- a trusted ally in the work of the gospel. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, Mark is listed as one of Paul’s “fellow workers”. And later, when Paul wrote to his young disciple Timothy, he mentioned Mark as being “helpful” to his ministry. We don’t know what happened, but somehow Paul and Mark had reconciled. Perhaps Paul realized that the grace he preached so vehemently needed to be applied to Mark. Maybe Mark matured, grew stronger, and proved himself to be reliable. The bottom line is that people can change. We can change. Things do not stay the same forever here on Earth. Thank God for that! Time heals. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Double Edged Ministry

August 2

(Acts 15:39b-41 NIV) “Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, {40} but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. {41} He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

(Isaiah 61:7 NIV) "Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs."

(Hebrews 4:12 NIV) "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

God can redeem anything for His glory -- even sharp disagreements that would appear to weaken the church. When Barnabas and Paul went their separate ways, Barnabas took Mark and went to Cyprus where the work of the Lord expanded, and Paul picked up a young disciple named Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the church and winning many to Jesus. What looked like a victory for Satan instead became double trouble. One team had become two teams. Gospel proclamation had doubled overnight. Paul and Barnabas had become a two-edged sword. The gospel was now on the offensive on two fronts. It may not have been in God’s original plan for Paul and Barnabas to split up, but God used it to His advantage. God knows how to win with any set of circumstances. God can redeem anything for His glory, even our human failings. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day