September 6
Bible Reading: Acts 15:30-41
Acts 15:39, “And there arose a sharp disagreement…”
Disagreements are common. Who hasn’t disagreed with someone about something? Disagreements even happen in the Christian community, sometimes even between godly people seeking to do the right thing. It’s good to know that God can well work in and through us despite that, as we see with Paul and Barnabas.
As fellow missionaries, Paul and Barnabas had worked closely together over some seven years. It was Barnabas who first vouched for Paul, facilitating his acceptance into the Christian community. Together on that first missionary journey, they traveled hundreds of miles, side-by-side, sharing the gospel and planting churches. Together, they witnessed amazing things and faced serious threats. They were both godly men, who risked their lives to share the good news about Jesus with people who had never heard the message before. One can only imagine how close they’d become because of their shared experiences and love for Jesus. But when the time came to make a second missionary journey, a “sharp disagreement” arose between the two. The disagreement centered on whether to take John Mark with them. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin with them. Paul, troubled by John Mark’s previous desertion, did not.
John Mark did not go with them, but God worked despite the disagreement to prosper the gospel ministry. “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas” (and went) “through Syria and Cilicia” (Acts 15:40-41). God, who causes all things to work together for good in the lives of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) used the situation to multiply their efforts by sending the two groups of missionaries to two separate regions.
Just as with Paul and Barnabas, sometimes disagreements or other things can compel us to part ways with someone we love. It’s never easy and can be heartbreaking, but it’s good to remember in such situations that God can bring good out of our bad and work in unseen ways to fulfill His will! Our part is to keep trusting and keep seeking to do His will.
God is able to work through even the most painful experiences of life to move us to where He wants us to be!
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
Refrain:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the gloom of evening.
Lord, lead me on! Lord, lead me on!
On through the night! On to your radiance!
Lead, kindly Light!
Lead, kindly Light, kindly Light!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Direct my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
So lead me onward, Lord, and hear my plea. [Refrain]
Not always thus, I seldom looked for you,
I loved to choose and seek my path alone.
In spite of fear, my pride controlled my will,
Remember not my past, but lead me still. [Refrain]
So long your pow’r has blest me on the way,
And still it leads, past hill and storm and night!
And with the morn, those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 