Receive Him. Colossians 4:10. Each of us leaves a reputation behind wherever we go, often shaped by situations that reveal our faith or lack of it. One person might have taken on difficult tasks and still bears the consequences when tough times and hard assignments are assigned to them. Another may be recognized for breaking down barriers between conflicting people or for mending fences.
When someone visits an assembly gathering whom we do not know, there is a protocol to follow. A letter written by those we know or who have been responsible for the conduct and commitment of the visitor serves as a testimony to who it is we permit to support the reputation of the local church in the community. It is a strong safeguard for the public witness of an assembly when a visitor brings a letter from responsible elders with their signatures.
This also keeps us aware of a change from a person's past to their public testimony in the present. When salvation or recovery is made, the negative reputation should not last. The grace of God working in one's life often is a wonder to behold when repentance is genuine, and commitment to obey and follow the Lord is real. It is scriptural to receive such a one into the safety of God's fold where they can be kept secure and accountable to those who care for their souls.
Welcoming visitors or new members often brings blessings. The fellowship of those who have been tested and proven elsewhere can strengthen the saints here, and we can trust the teaching and ministry He provides. When assurances are given about His testimony in the place He left, we have reason to believe He will be an asset to the assembly that receives Him. Visitors can bless us, and we can bless them when we follow the pattern set in God's Word. Recently, I experienced the same words: "We gladly receive him to our fellowship and appreciate his help." It may not seem like a big thing to some, but according to God's Word, the rest of the introduction was something like this: "We receive him in the name of the Lord."
Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with Paul during a riot at Ephesus. He and Tychicus were among the group who accompanied Paul for three months in Greece, and he also traveled with Paul when they boarded a ship bound for Rome. The scriptures do not specify whether he became a prisoner at the start of the journey or was taken prisoner because he stayed with Paul in Rome. Whatever the case, we know that he was a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel.
It is a privilege to be recognized as someone who places himself in a position to carry out the word of the Lord, even if it means imprisonment. We serve God when we serve His people, just as Aristarchus served Paul. Although little is known about some of us, when a believer is willing to meet the needs of others, that person deserves our respect, honor, and gratitude.
Mark is better known for being with Paul and Barnabas early in the work of Gospel outreach; when he left the work at Pamphylia, Paul considered him a deserter. Some writers say Mark was the young man who left his garment and fled naked when the Lord Jesus Christ was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane. At some point in his life, he came to put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but had to overcome fear of consequences as well as fear of men. Once his faith was strengthened and he recovered his testimony, he could again be useful in the work of the Lord.
We may stumble in our Christian walk when we focus on our circumstances and let the fear of man or fear of public commitment hinder our faith. There is always a way back to God, and when we return, we can become useful again, possibly in different ways, and be used to bring glory to God and blessing to His people.
We are not told in the Bible how the Holy Spirit chose Mark to write “The Gospel of Mark,” but it seems that after being with Paul in Rome, he also spent time with Peter. The concise style of writing, as seen in the account of our Lord’s public ministry, was likely guided by Peter. The key events in our Lord’s life show that He is the Perfect Servant of God. God used an imperfect servant to write about the servant qualities of our Lord. The accounts, parables, and illustrations in Mark’s Gospel provide evidence of that.