Good bye 2011!! 2012 Beckons!
We all have some regrets about the past in 2011 and try to forget our misdeeds and mistakes. At best we turn to our old trusty cupboards where those hidden skeletons are best kept. The term “sweep it underneath the carpet” is not new to us either.
John Mark is a good example. His early missionary years with Paul and Barnabas hit a bad spell when he abandoned them and returned home, when they entered Asia Minor .
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 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. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Linus a famed character in the Peanuts comic strip, had this to say, “Maybe we should think only about today.” Charlie Brown’s instant reflex reply to this,
“No, that’s giving up. I’m still hoping
yesterday will get better.”
“No, that’s giving up. I’m still hoping
yesterday will get better.”
Since we can’t change what occurred yesterday, we might as well learn from it and riding on God’s love, forgiveness and ability use that knowledge to make a better tomorrow. Yes, learning from yesterday’s or past mistakes.
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| Asia Minor |
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 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. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
No reason was given why he did this, but it sure didn’t go well with the apostle Paul.
At some point later Mark, must have changed and reconciled with Paul. He became a co-worker of Barnabas
When Paul was in prison awaiting execution, he bid Timothy to come along with Mark. Paul further stressed Mark was important to his ministry.
2 Timothy 4:11
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
In the old testament in Jeremiah 22:24-30, God pronounced a judgement on Coniah (Jehoiachin) and his family line. God had said that even if Coniah was a signet ring, He would still pull him off.
24 “As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Jehoiachin[a] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.[b] 26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return to.”
23 “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
In ancient times, a King who wanted to mark or secure a document with his seal used his signet ring by pressing it into molten wax or softened wax and allowed it to harden into an unbroken seal that bore the mark of his ring. The signet ring represented the honor, authority, and personal guarantee of the king, hence its esteemed value.
Incredibly, years later, God said to his grandson Zerubbabel, I would make you like a signet ring.
Haggai 2:23
23 “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
28 Is this man Jehoiachin a despised, broken pot,
an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled out,
cast into a land they do not know?
29 O land, land, land,
hear the word of the LORD!
30 This is what the LORD says:
“Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah.”
an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled out,
cast into a land they do not know?
29 O land, land, land,
hear the word of the LORD!
30 This is what the LORD says:
“Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah.”
Because Zerubbabel led a group of Jews back to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon
Value has a value only if its value is valued by God
Sin carries its consequences. But we must never forget God is also merciful and blesses those who do what pleases Him. Zerubbabel through his obedience pleased God and overturned the impending generational curse.
When we are obedient, we too can experience the joy of being His signet ring.
We cannot erase yesterday’s mistake. But if we take our sins and mistakes to the Lord and seek His help, having learned from it, we can be better today and tomorrow.
"I’m still hoping
yesterday will get better in 2012.”
Blessed New year!
yesterday will get better in 2012.”
Blessed New year!
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