The Making of Me 造就了我
Dexu Xia
Barnabas wanted to take John . . . with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him. Acts 15:37–38
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?
Who had faith in you and helped you succeed? What did that person do to encourage you?
Dear God, thank You for walking alongside me and placing people in my life who helped to make me who I am today.
巴拿巴有意要带别号马可的约翰一同去，但保罗认为不应带他去。—使徒行传15章37-38节，新译本
七岁的爱迪生不喜欢上学，在校的表现也不怎么好。有一次，老师说他是个“怪胎”，于是他气呼呼地冲回家。爱迪生的母亲是受过培训的教师，她在隔天与老师对谈之后，就决定在家自己教导爱迪生。结果，爱迪生因着母亲的爱与鼓励，还有上帝赐予他的天赋，最后成了一名伟大的发明家。他后来写道：“我母亲造就了我，她真的很爱我，也全心信任我。让我觉得要为她而活，绝不让她失望。”
在使徒行传15章提到，巴拿巴和使徒保罗成为宣教士一同服事，后来，却为了是否要带称呼马可的约翰同去宣教而产生了重大的分歧。保罗抱持反对意见，因为马可先前曾“在旁非利亚离开他们”（36-38节）。最后，保罗带着西拉，巴拿巴带着马可，两人分道扬镳。巴拿巴愿意再给马可一次机会，巴拿巴的信任使马可能继续服事，且成为一位成功的宣教士。后来马可还写了一本福音书，也在保罗坐监时带给他安慰（提摩太后书4章11节）。
我们很多人在回顾过往时，都会想到在人生路上，有人曾鼓励或帮助我们。或许在你的人生道路上，上帝正要你同样去帮助某个人。那么，你可以去鼓励谁呢？
谁曾经对你有信心且帮助你成功？
他曾做些什么来鼓励你呢？
且在我生命中赐下帮助者，造就了今日