Selective Sacrifice

I didn't watch game three of the World Series, but I woke up during the night and noticed my friend's Facebook comment about wanting to go to bed. Her friends were commiserating with her; the game had gone on long enough. It was after 3:00 A.M., so I assumed the game was now over, but when I checked online, I discovered that the still-active game was in the top of the eighteenth inning. I laughed and went back to bed. I found out in the morning that the game had lasted a record-breaking seven hours and twenty minutes, not ending until 3:30 A.M (EST).

This incident got me thinking. I wonder how many people stayed up and watched that game until its bitter end (or triumphant end, depending on team preference). How many people will stay up again and watch game four? How many people paid $800 for an admission ticket or even $20-$35 for a team shirt? Certainly not every fan would make those sacrifices . . . but many did.

I thought some more. How many people would make those same sacrifices for spiritual purposes as they would for an athletic contest? Would they stay up till 3:30 A.M. to counsel someone in crisis or to pray for an urgent need? Would they attend all four nights of services at church, when the end time was an inconvenient 8:00 or 8:30 P.M.? Would they give $800 for a special need at church or to purchase a plane ticket to go on a mission trip? Would they give even the $20-$35 to help with a pressing need or to assist someone else who wanted to go on a mission trip?

It's not my intention to pass judgment on anyone or condemn the decisions of others. In fact, there are many people who would sacrifice to this extent for both causes and other people who wouldn't sacrifice for either. There are other people who would sacrifice to lesser degrees, while still making a meaningful investment. My point is that we do sacrifice our time and money for what is important to us. If we never give sacrificially (or even inconveniently) to God of our time and money, that says something about our level of dedication. It reveals something of the passion that we have for God (or lack thereof).

When it comes to giving money to God's work, the Bible shares the following truths.

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:20-21).

"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Corinthians 9:6-7).

"That in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints" (II Corinthians 8:2-4).

The Bible also speaks of the sacrifice of our time and of our lives.

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).

"Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1).

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 3:7).

The Bible also provides examples of people who gladly gave of themselves, sacrificing their lives for the sake of Christ.

Epaphroditus : "Because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me" (Philippians 2:30).

Paul: "In far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the seas, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches" (II Corinthians 11:23-28). "I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls" (II Corinthians 12:15).

When it comes to the World Series, I can imagine some die-hard fans avowing, "It was no sacrifice for me. I love my Sox/Dodgers." Do we love God enough that our efforts for Him are no sacrifice, but a gift of love? What will we give or sacrifice for what really matters? Will we give our money to God's work? Will we only ever give the minimum or will we sometimes give something extra? Will we occasionally give until it hurts? Will we spend personal time with God? Will we faithfully attend church? Will we invest some of our time in ministry? Will we give ourselves - our lives - to be dedicated to living for God and serving Him? There is no greater cause for which we can make sacrifices. 

John Mark

John Mark was a man with great potential and tremendous opportunities. While his record is not spotless, he was indeed a noteworthy leader in the early church, and his story provides insight regarding the training of leaders.

John Mark grew up in an active Christian family that was involved in Christianity from the beginning. There is speculation that John Mark was present when Jesus was betrayed; some suggest he was the young man who fled naked (Mark 14:51-52). As the gospel's author, he would have known that detail but doesn't refer to himself by name, similar to John's habit. Even without that supposition, John Mark's family followed Christ from the early years of the church. His cousin was the well-known and influential leader Barnabas.  It also seems that a body of believers met in John Mark's home. That is where the prayer meeting was held when Peter was in prison with his life threatened. "And when [Peter] realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying" (Acts 12:12). It is interesting that John Mark's name is included in the identification, as if his name held some significance in regards to that church. This prayer meeting took place around A.D.44.

John Mark was noticed early on by Barnabas and Saul; even before they were sent as missionaries, they apparently saw his potential. "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark" (Acts 12:25). They then chose him to accompany them on their first missionary journey. John Mark helped them in their ground-breaking ministry, going with them to Salamis and Paphos. "When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper" (Acts 13:5). For whatever reason, John Mark did not continue on the rest of the missionary journey. "Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem" (Acts 13:13). This abandonment was very disappointing to Paul but certainly not the end of John Mark's service. This missionary adventure was probably between A.D. 46 and 48.

John Mark then received a second chance. Paul was so disturbed by John Mark's previous departure that he wouldn't consider taking him on the second missionary journey. Barnabas, however, gave him another chance and continued this man's training. "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. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus" (Acts 15:37-39). The Bible does not record the details of the missionary trip of Barnabas and John Mark, but it was a time of more training and fuller partnership. This trip was likely between A.D.49 and 51.

After his missionary journeys with Paul and Barnabas, John Mark's next astounding service took place alongside the apostle Peter. While theories vary widely, it seems probable that John Mark authored the gospel of Mark in the mid-50s. His relationship with Peter existed even at the time of the prayer meeting and probably continued and grew through the rest of Peter's life. Perhaps with some of his own knowledge, though primarily relying on the perspective of Peter, John Mark was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the gospel of Mark.

Over the years, it seems that Paul had continued contact with John Mark and probably some ministry together with him. Paul came to esteem John Mark as a valuable fellow worker. Both Colossians and Philemon were written around A.D. 60. "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him)" (Colossians 4:10). "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers" (Philemon 23-24). Paul speaks of John Mark with regard, listing him alongside many other men that he worked with and helped to train.

Peter's on-going influence of John Mark was significant. As Peter closed his first epistle, written around A.D. 64, he shares, "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark" (I Peter 5:13). The terminology indicates that John Mark was likely a pupil of Peter. Even after the previous years of ministry and training, Peter continued the process with John Mark, mentoring and guiding him. Nearing the end of his life, Peter labored to leave reliable leaders behind him.

The latest reference to John Mark comes again from the apostle Paul. Around A.D. 66, he wrote, "Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service" (II Timothy 4:11). Not only did Paul recognize John Mark's usefulness, but he valued and desired it. At a time when he was nearly alone and needed help, John Mark is the man he asked for.

John Mark's accomplishments are note-worthy; they represent the grace of God channeled through several factors. His story starts with potential and a great heritage. He was given outstanding opportunities for service and was trained and mentored by some of the most prominent leaders of the church. He was given second chances and was invested in by multiple leaders.

John Mark's role, maturity, ability, service, and reputation grew over the years. His story reveals several important components of training leaders: encouraging parents, service opportunities, second chances, increasing responsibility, multiplicity of mentors, and progressive training. When various people are willing to get involved in complementary roles, God can tremendously use people who might otherwise stay on the fringes.

Thank You

There are times in life when we are particularly aware of the kindness of others. What they do to express that kindness might not even be a big thing: a touch, a meal, a prayer, a question. Other times the kindness might be greater, such as performing a significant task that we could never have done, or regularly intervening over an extended time frame. It can be easy to take those things for granted, maybe almost expecting them. However, when those kindnesses come at a particularly difficult or vulnerable time, we are so much more aware of how thankful we are for them.

When someone does for us something that we would never have been able to do or ministers to us at a time when we feel especially overwhelmed, our hearts are (or ought to be) stirred with deep gratitude. In fact, we might find ourselves offering thanks to that person repeatedly for the same thing, perhaps mentioning it again and again over a period of time, even to the point that our repeated thanks becomes awkward for the recipient. The excessive expressions of thanks are not intended to make the person uncomfortable; they merely reflect our recognition of how significant and special their action was at that particular time, of how intensely that kindness was needed.

As hard as it can be to notice and appreciate what other people have done for us, it is possibly even more difficult to be conscious and thankful for what God does for us. After all, when we receive His gifts and kindnesses, we don't have the same face-to-face interaction. Furthermore, He performs those kindnesses on such a routine basis that we don't even focus on all He is doing. Every day God is doing things for us, often in a behind-the-scenes way, so that we don't even realize what He is working out for us. God's kind actions are always what we need, and He performs them deliberately out of what His wisdom knows is best for us.

There are times when His displays are more obvious, perhaps giving a significant breakthrough, meeting an overwhelming need, or answering a heart-felt and long-standing prayer. Whether particularly noticeable in this way or whether in the routine care of life, God deserves our thanks and praise for all His kindness to us. "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2).

This psalm goes on to list a great many significant things that God regularly does on behalf of His people. I once read this psalm on a birthday when I was feeling particularly low - not because it was a milestone number, but because it came at a time in my life when I was especially isolated and forgotten. As I considered this psalm, I was touched by God's expressions of goodness, and I organized the various aspects into a non-traditional poem that I entitled "My Birthday Gifts."

God gives me lovingkindness.

He abounds with it and places it on my head.
It is great, as high as heaven is above earth.
It lasts from everlasting to everlasting.

God gives me compassion.

He places His compassion on my head.
He is compassionate and gracious.
Because He knows my frail frame of dust,
He gives His fatherly compassion.

God gives me strength and blessing.

He is the healer of my diseases.
He gives me renewed youth like an eagle.
He gives me enough good things to satisfy.

God gives me His righteous rule.

His rule is sovereign over all.
He displays His acts to me.
He performs righteous deeds and judgments for the oppressed.
His righteousness extends through generations.

God gives me forgiveness.

He is slow to anger.
He has not dealt as harshly as my sins deserve.
He pardons all my iniquities.
He removed my sins as far away as east is from west.
He redeemed my life from the pit and gave me salvation.

Thank You, God, for Your gifts.

May I forget none of Your benefits.
Even the angels bless You.
I too should bless You.
Bless the Lord. Bless His name.

This combination of practical and spiritual gifts is typical of God's interaction. There have been some things in my own life recently that have caused me to focus on some notable kindnesses of God - special provisions and answers to long-standing prayer. I have been thankful for those things, but as my thoughts turned again to Psalm 103, I remembered that God has done and is doing for me a multitude of other very significant things. I don't want to take those for granted. I don't want to fail to see God's goodness to me.

Over the past few weeks, there have been several times when my heart has overflowed toward God by simply saying, "Thank You. Thank You. Thank You." This gratitude for practical intervention is appropriate, but I don't want to forget the spiritual blessings that God has also provided for me. When I think of His love, His compassion, His blessing, His righteousness, and His forgiveness - all of which are described in Psalm 103 - may my heart also overflow with that same expression: "Thank You. Thank You. Thank You." Unlike with people, where repeated thanks could become awkward, my thanks to God will never be enough, nor will it ever be dismissed by the great God who deserves it.

"Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will. Bless the LORD, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; bless the LORD, O my soul!" (Psalm 103:21-22).

Nature in Upheaval

When God wants to do something, nothing can stand in His way. Psalm 114 talks about when God rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt. In fact, the psalm doesn't even tell the whole story. God did some pretty amazing things through the time of the exodus, and most of them are not mentioned in this psalm. Nature was quite obviously under God's control and manipulated by His great power, and the psalm reveals that general principle.

          Reflection on Psalm 114 (God Versus Nature)

There’s knowledge sure that nature’s laws instill -

The seas lie flat and rivers flow downhill,
While mountains stand erect and hills are still.

When God performs with power strong and deep,

Away seas run and rivers form a heap.
The mountains skip; like lambs the hills do leap.

The earth should quake at God’s events so strange,

When He makes nature work outside its range;
For He can even rocks to water change.

What impact should this concept have on me,

Of His law-breaking capability?
I must submit in great humility.

The psalm clearly reveals God's power, and it also gives an application. "Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob" (v. 7). God has such remarkable control over nature, causing it to respond in totally unnatural ways if that is His desire. The earth itself is to stand in awe and fear of Him. How much more should people?

As presented in this psalm, the fact that God is so powerful is not primarily a source of inspiration and encouragement. It isn't designed to instill confidence that God will move heaven and earth on behalf of an individual. The point isn't that God will do miraculous or even incredible things for His children. Those things are possible and they might happen in some cases, but this psalm is written to instill awe in all who are aware of His great power.

If God can do the things described in this psalm, there is no way anyone should want to put himself in opposition to God. No one should have the audacity to lift himself up before God or try to exercise his own strength against God. It would be pointless to try, and it would also be foolish.

Because God has such incredible ability, the correct response of man is to humbly recognize God as the authority and to trust Him as the facilitator of all that must be done. It was true for Israel that when God chose to exercise Himself on their behalf, He did so in an extraordinary way. He may not perform such extreme actions today, but it is still true that He can do great things for His children. He is pleased when those children humbly and confidently rely on Him.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time" (I Peter 5:6).