It was shocking when Mark...
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It was shocking when Mark was caught stealing from the house of one of his friends. No
one really thought he would have done such a thing. At the time, Mark was thirteen years
old. The police were called and questioned several other boys. Eventually, Mark
confessed to taking the missing items, which were quickly recovered. Mark's parents
grounded him for a month. After school, he was supposed to go straight home.
Other parents told their children to stay away from Mark and have nothing to do with him. He was a bad influence, they told their children. Mark was no longer welcomed in their homes.
Interestingly, several of the teenagers did not exactly follow their parents' suggestions. Some became even closer friends with Mark. They treated him in such a way as if he had never done anything wrong. Without realizing it, Mark's loyal friends were offering him grace and forgiveness, even though he did not deserve it. Years later, Mark credits his friends who stood by him as changing his life. He could only speculate what might have happened if all his friends deserted him at that tender age all because of one mistake.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus we are able to live by the Spirit.
Other parents told their children to stay away from Mark and have nothing to do with him. He was a bad influence, they told their children. Mark was no longer welcomed in their homes.
Interestingly, several of the teenagers did not exactly follow their parents' suggestions. Some became even closer friends with Mark. They treated him in such a way as if he had never done anything wrong. Without realizing it, Mark's loyal friends were offering him grace and forgiveness, even though he did not deserve it. Years later, Mark credits his friends who stood by him as changing his life. He could only speculate what might have happened if all his friends deserted him at that tender age all because of one mistake.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus we are able to live by the Spirit.
