Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 
This short sentence carries a story. A story of second chances and quiet admittance of wrong. 

It’s a story of great men of God. Joseph (Barnabus) was a man who seemed to pour out second chances. He was the man who gave Saul (Paul) the first second chance into the family of God. Barnabus mentored Paul and traveled with him on missionary journeys. In fact, Joseph’s nickname, Barnabus, means Encourager. 

The second person of the story is Paul. Paul was a no nonsense man. Second chances were given, but not quickly. Paul is a great man of God, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from his mistakes. The mistake that we can learn from is a disagreement between Paul and Barnabus. What was the disagreement over? John Mark. 

John Mark is the young man that traveled with Joseph and Saul in their early missionary journeys. And at a point in one of those journeys Mark left. We don’t know if he was sick, injured, tired, scared. We only know he left. When Paul and Barnabus get back, Barnabus suggests taking Mark with them again, and Paul says no to a second chance. 

The disagreement was so sharp that it cut Paul and Barnabus in 2. Paul left with Silas on his journey; and Barnabus left with Mark. But as our opening verse shows, Paul eventually gave Mark a second chance and recognized his value to the ministry. It required Barnabus to give a second chance to Mark, for Paul to give a second chance too.  

So you never know how the second chance you offer someone will lead someone else to give them a second chance too!

The point is, How often in our lives do we struggle to believe in or give second chances? Have you ever held back a second chance or refused to accept a second chance? The best news is that Jesus gives countless second chances. If we were all only given one chance with Him, we would all be doomed. So, how needs a second chance from you? Give it, in the name of Christ.