5/3/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our Epistle for the commemoration of St. Mark, Evangelist, does mention Mark as being useful in ministry. Yet there's possibly a more important reason to include this passage.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul tells Timothy what kind of priorities he should have, as a younger generation minister. Mark is also in that generation. We are in yet another generation of the younger set of Christians. What are we to do?
Verse five speaks of being sober-mided, enduring, and bringing the good news of the Gospel. That's what we do. We look at life realistically. That also means we consider God realistically. We understand that our power has limitations but also that we are made special and can do all things through Christ.
This won't always be easy. Paul has worn himself out running the race of Christ. Timothy and Mark will wear out. So will I. So will you. We endure suffering, as did Christ. He, the risen Lord, is also our hope, even through hardship.
We can keep the work going because we "do the work of an evangelist." The Greek word says we are bearers of good news. That is, first and foremost, that God in Christ has atoned for our sins. But other good news flows from that. God calls us into fellowship with one another. Good news! We have a promsie that the God who never changes is still running the world. Good news! There's every reason to hope in eternity.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our Epistle for the commemoration of St. Mark, Evangelist, does mention Mark as being useful in ministry. Yet there's possibly a more important reason to include this passage.
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul tells Timothy what kind of priorities he should have, as a younger generation minister. Mark is also in that generation. We are in yet another generation of the younger set of Christians. What are we to do?
Verse five speaks of being sober-mided, enduring, and bringing the good news of the Gospel. That's what we do. We look at life realistically. That also means we consider God realistically. We understand that our power has limitations but also that we are made special and can do all things through Christ.
This won't always be easy. Paul has worn himself out running the race of Christ. Timothy and Mark will wear out. So will I. So will you. We endure suffering, as did Christ. He, the risen Lord, is also our hope, even through hardship.
We can keep the work going because we "do the work of an evangelist." The Greek word says we are bearers of good news. That is, first and foremost, that God in Christ has atoned for our sins. But other good news flows from that. God calls us into fellowship with one another. Good news! We have a promsie that the God who never changes is still running the world. Good news! There's every reason to hope in eternity.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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