June 30, 2008

Live by God’s Timing

Do you have a hard time letting go? Many people do. They cling to things, memories, ideals and desires beyond the point of being healthy with their emotions and time. In Acts, Luke wrote, “Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work,” (15:37-38). Something happened between these men. We don’t know fully, but we do know that it was pressing enough for the apostle Paul to step in and say, “This will not continue.” That took tremendous courage. Barnabas was the one who went with him on his first missionary journey. He also was the one person that was willing to accept him when others could not move past the fact that he was Saul—the persecutor of the Christian faith.

But Paul had been given a mission—a charge by God—to do a certain work. More than likely, he cared for John Mark. He probably saw the young man’s potential but he knew that the work that needed to be down was crucial and he had to make a decision. And the answer to Barnabas’ question was no. Mark could not go any further with them. Paul could not risk the distraction or jeopardize the work by getting off track while dealing with anything other than what God had given him to do.

There will be times when it seems that you may have a million decisions to make. People pull at you to choose their solution, but deep inside you can sense God telling to you stay on the course He has given you to run. If this is the case, do not alter your pace or change your direction. Be willing to say no to any and everything that has a potential for distraction. The most important thing you will do is exactly what the Lord has given you to do today and every day. Anything else can wait for another time.

Later, after God had worked mightily in Mark’s life, we find him in route to being with Paul once again. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (1 Tim.4:11). Timing is everything to God and this is what He wants us to remember. We live to do His will, His way, and in His timing.

Taken from the on-line devotional book Grace in The Wilderness ©2008 tfchistory com.