August 17, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional || ODB Today Message For Wednesday

Our Daily Bread Devotional 17th August 2022 || ODB Today

READ WEDNESDAY ODB DEVOTIONAL, OUR DAILY BREAD 17TH AUGUST 2022 WRITTEN BY ALYSON KIEDA (OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES)

TOPIC: The Making of Me

KEY VERSE: Barnabas wanted to take John . . . with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him. Acts 15:37–38

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:36–40

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

READ: August 16, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional || Crushed and Beautiful

Our Daily Bread Devotional August 17, 2022 – ODB Reading

39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Psalms 97–99; Romans 16

August 17, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional INSIGHT

Learning is one of the most important aspects of living—even for great thinkers and leaders like the apostle Paul. We see this learning in process when we consider his attitude toward John Mark in Acts 15 compared to his attitude in 2 Timothy 4. In Acts 15:38, when Paul and Barnabas agreed to visit the churches they’d planted, Paul refused to allow John Mark to accompany them because on the previous trip the young man had “deserted” them.

In 2 Timothy 4:10–16, Paul wrote that when he needed support from his friends, they also had “deserted” him. Here, however, instead of throwing them away for their desertion (as he had John Mark), he pleaded that this not be held against them. An astonishing change of attitude—which is reinforced by Paul’s words of respect and appreciation for Mark in 2 Timothy 4:11.

READ: ODB Reading – Our Daily Bread Devotional 15 August 2022 | The Marriage Metaphor

August 17, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional MESSAGE

Seven-year-old Thomas Edison didn’t like or do well in school. One day, he was even called “addled” (mentally confused) by a teacher. He stormed home. After speaking with the teacher the next day, his mom, a teacher by training, decided to teach Thomas at home. Helped along by her love and encouragement (and his God-given genius), Thomas went on to become a great inventor. He later wrote, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”

In Acts 15, we read that Barnabas and the apostle Paul served together as missionaries until they had a major disagreement about whether or not to bring along John Mark. Paul was opposed because Mark had earlier “deserted them in Pamphylia” (vv. 36–38). As a result, Paul and Barnabas split. Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark. Barnabas was willing to give Mark a second chance, and his encouragement contributed to Mark’s ability to serve and succeed as a missionary. He went on to write the gospel of Mark and was even a comfort to Paul while he was in prison (2 Timothy 4:11).

Many of us can look back and point to someone in our life who encouraged and helped us along our way. God may be calling you to do the same for someone in your life. Whom might you encourage?

ALSO, READ August 14, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional || Grace for Trials

August 17, 2022 – Our Daily Bread Devotional | ODB Today For Wednesday

REFLECT: Who had faith in you and helped you succeed? What did that person do to encourage you?

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for walking alongside me and placing people in my life who helped to make me who I am today.

Our Daily Bread Devotional 17th August 2022 || ODB Today Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread booklet.