Rejoin

February 4

“…for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica…” II Timothy 4:10.

Mark and Demas were both colleagues of the apostle Paul and they clearly illustrate the startling contrast between faithful and faithless soldiers in God’s army. In the beginning, Demas seemed a better soldier for Christ than Mark for he had served as Paul’s right-hand man. Demas traveled with Paul on each of his missionary journeys. Along with Paul, Demas had experienced shipwreck, beatings and trial of every sort that Paul endured.

Mark, on the other hand, had abandoned Paul on his first trip. Mark had gone home, and when he felt ready to resume serving, Paul refused to allow Mark to rejoin his team. At this point, Mark joined Barnabas and traveled as a missionary partner with him. During this time when Mark was being mentored by the seasoned missionary, he grew into a faithful man of God who served the Kingdom of Christ with all his strength.

While in his prison cell awaiting death, Paul realized which man was the true servant of Christ; which one was the faithful soldier in His army. Demas had now forsaken him, “having loved this present world,” II Timothy 4:10, and Paul eagerly awaited Mark’s arrival. By this time, Paul considered him to be “profitable in the ministry,” II Timothy 4:11. In fact, in addition to traversing the known world to propagate the knowledge of the Living Savior, Mark also authored the Gospel of Mark. Indeed, he was not the unprofitable servant that Paul originally thought him to be.

Have you failed the Lord? Have you fallen short of your own expectation of how faithfully and committedly you would serve the Kingdom of Christ? Have you sinned after your initial conversion to Jesus and now consider yourself to be damaged goods that are unfit to be part of the Body of Christ?

If so, it is obvious that you are in good company. If you have disappointed everyone, including yourself, follow Mark’s example and place yourself under a godly mentor by whose nurture and example you will be able to flourish into the person of faith that the Holy One has ordained that you be.

Then rejoin the Army of Faithful soldiers in its striving to share the truth of Jesus with all men; then, fight the good fight to the end!