Reconciliation and Maturity; Colossians 3-4

May the mumbling commence!

Yes, sometimes fellowship and trust are broken.  But, with God, fellowship and trust can be restored.  The Apostle Paul once felt betrayed by John Mark, who left him and Barnabas on their first recorded mission trip.  When Paul and Barnabas were preparing to set out again, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along.  Paul refused. 

Barnabas’ and Paul’s disagreement caused the fracturing of a powerful missionary team.  From one team there became two.  Barnabas and John Mark went one way, and Paul and Silas went another.

The power of God healed this fracturing eventually.  We have some proof of this healing in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church – where John Mark is simply referred to as Mark (just as he is elsewhere in the scriptures).  Read a couple of verses from the last chapter of Colossians (chapter four):

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. (Verses 10-11)

The Mark that Paul once thought hopelessly immature was now mature and serving with Paul.  If Mark was to come to the Colossian church, they were to welcome him.  The fractured fellowship and trust were restored between Paul and his friends – Barnabas and Mark. 

In this restoration – this reconciliation – we find great hope.  Even when we tear down bridges and build up walls, the Spirit of the living God will not allow them to last for long.  Healing will come in time.

There is another cause for joy in this passage.  Mark, who was once immature in Christ Jesus, had become a mature believer.  Mark had gone from homesickness to finding his home wherever the Spirit of God led him in mission.

If we are truthful with ourselves (as we should be), we often find ourselves immature in our faith in Christ Jesus.  Old patterns and comfortable grooves are too easy to stay in or return to.  When we allow the Spirit of the holy and living God saturate our lives, change will happen.  We will mature. 

I will mature.  And my wife says, “Amen.  So be it.”

Hmm…  Reconciliation and maturity… they do go together, don’t they?

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out