Good morning!
Text: Acts 13-15; Proverbs 11:16-31
A story that fascinates me is told in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabus, who had been tight as missionary partners, find themselves at odds. It is time to go out on mission, and Barnabus wants to take along a young protege, John Mark. You may recall that Barnabus does that – he was Paul’s mentor and sponsor. But Paul is a man of action and does not want the baggage of a “trainee” tagging along. The text says this:
And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed (Acts 15:39-40)
The missionary team has now multiplied into two teams. Barnabus indeed trains John Mark (he writes the Gospel of Mark), and Paul ends up picking up Timothy as part of his team – the future pastor of the church at Ephesus. It is all good.
Now – here is the interesting part. Their decision to not “resolve” their difference was good and godly. The mission had changed and their partnership was over. It was time for an essential ending. This can be true for us at times as well. It is okay to part company (without anger or prejudice) when it just isn’t working. Sometimes it is right in the center of God’s will.
in Him, Mike