Happy Thursday! It is Feb. 8, 2024. Have you ever disagreed with another Christian? Some think that it should be off-limits and should never happen. However, Christians are “people” just like us. We all have differing maturity levels and varying perspectives that influence our decisions. However, the actual test is not how high you blow up but what direction your feet are facing when you touch the ground again! Paul the Apostle and Barnabas, the encourager, have a blow-up today. It happens, but watch how they land. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Leviticus 7,8,9; Acts 15
Scripture
“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:39-41)
Observation
The Word of God records the raw, unsanitized reality of the early Church. There's no redacting of unsavory events. It is trustworthy and accurate, and because of that, we can learn Kingdom principles. Some will use Scripture's transparency as a reason to devalue the Bible as unpleasant or irrelevant. However, God intended it to be used for "teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness" (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Mark had dropped out on their first missionary journey, and now, when they were about to depart on a subsequent mission trip, Paul felt Mark wasn't ready for the rigors of ministry travel. Barnabas disagreed. The issue became so polarizing that Paul decided to split …not only with Mark but also with his long-time friend, Barnabas!
Application
Forks in the road are not necessarily dead-ends. There will be seasons when friends who travel together will find their paths divide. Forks-in-the-road are bittersweet but necessary to follow what Jesus has called us to. Although Mark's behavior surfaced the different perspectives of each leader, the bottom line was that they stayed faithful to their calling, and in reality, two missionary efforts were birthed. Ministry would now be multiplied, and both teams were "commended by the believers."
Prayer
Lord, there will be many, I’m sure, who will disagree with me, or I with them. That doesn’t mean we should amputate our relationship with a dissenting brother or a disagreeing sister. Our roads may diverge, but we both must put You above all else. Sometimes, I know that we hold onto old friends for emotional comfort, but You call us to our eternal purpose, and at those forks in the road, You reveal our need to press into You! When we come to those forks, please help us to keep our eyes on You, retain a clear heart, and never allow a disagreement to become a personal discouragement or a “relationship dismissal.” Instead, please help me to double-check our directives and renew our intentionality … at every fork in the road.
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