Daily Lesson for September 15, 2014

Today's daily lesson comes from Acts chapter 15 verses 37 and 38:

37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

There are some things in life you just can't live down in the eyes of others.

In the early days of the church Paul and Barnabas were doing missionary work and took with them Barnabas's younger cousin John Mark. At some point in the trip Mark left Paul and Barnabas for a reason which is now lost to history.

Whatever reason Mark had for leaving Paul obviously found it insufficient. At a later time Paul and Barnabas were setting out on another missionary journey and Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance but Paul was adamant that that was not to be. Paul and Barnabas disagreed so strongly that the two ended up parting ways.

All that to say, Mark had proven himself an untrustworthy companion to Paul the first time around, and Paul was not about to risk it a second time. Paul had already sized Mark up and found him lacking, which goes to show you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

Oh, and by the way, later on Mark authored the first Gospel called the book of Mark. It is a brilliant account of Jesus' life and ministry and God has used it to change the lives of literally countless numbers of people.

Which goes to show you first impressions may be wrong - even when they're Saint Paul's.