COPS

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ^24 …And so do Mark Philemon 1:23-24a (NIV)

It was Saturday night and Sarah and I were looking to see it there was something on TV to watch.  There was nothing.  We were stuck watching something we’d never been interested in before—Cops.  What happened next may surprise you.  What we saw made us wonder why we’d never watched Cops before.  It was so interesting, funny, gripping, raw, and entertaining.  Cops is great!

I brought this up to my pastor friend and one told me his favorite episode was filmed in Fresno County when a man was being questioned.  He was visibly under the influence of something.  The officer asked him, “Sir, are you under the influence of a drug?” “Drugs?  No way officer.  Drugs are illegal.  I don’t engage in illegal activity,” the man slurred the best he could.  “Are you sure?” asked the officer.  “Yes sir,” said the man, “Drugs are bad for you.”  By this time the camera zoomed in on the man’s ear.  There was something tucked behind his ear in plain sight.  The officer reached behind his ear almost like one of those “coin behind the ear” tricks.  What he lifted was a marijuana joint.  The man was amazed.

What’s funny about this story is this man being so quick to bash drugs—the stuff behind his ear.  It just proves the point that often times we don’t practice what we preach.  Why do I bring this up?  Because of Mark.  Years before, Paul and Barnabas (Paul’s ministry companion) had a disagreement about Mark.  They actually separated in their missionary journey because Barnabas wanted to take Mark but Paul didn’t want to have anything to do with him.  Mark had left them hanging in the past and Paul didn’t want him around.  But now they’re back together—Paul and Mark.  What happened?  Forgiveness.  This is important because Paul is now asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus.  You wonder if Paul saying, “Mark says hi!” is Paul’s way of giving Philemon a real life object lesson on forgiveness.

Ever get convicted by your own advice or correction.  As its coming out of your mouth it’s piercing your heart:  “You need to pray more!” you tell your heart broken friend.  And yet those words seem more for you than them.  “Your answer is found in God’s Word.  Are you in it?” you tell them as you also tell yourself.

My prayer for you is this:  May your advice, council, and correction come from your own experience and not just your knowledge.  Let’s be what we advise.

Question:

Why is it easy to advise what we’re not doing?

Why is it important to be what we advise?