[Anglican Communion 15 July 2020] Topic: Beyond Disagreement
TOPIC: Beyond Disagreement
READ: Acts 15:36-41 (NKJV)
Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they are doing.”
Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.
But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
THE MESSAGE:
After the conflict over circumcision, another conflict arose over the choice of John Mark as Paul and Barnabas prepared to visit the Churches where they had preached before. John Mark once left them and returned to Jerusalem when they went evangelizing, so he didn’t see the persecution of Paul and others. They disagreed over him sharply and went their separate ways – Paul with Silas and Barnabas with John Mark. While this disagreement lasted, God was concerned about His glory. Two mission teams emerged and God’s desire for the harvest of souls was still accomplished. Even with the human disagreement, God still had the last word and worked to accomplish His purposes. He worked through less favourable circumstances to accomplish His plan.
Even in disagreement, God’s work can still be advanced. If Satan cannot damage the Church through false teaching, he will try from the inside. He stirs up discord among brethren within the Church to damage it from the inside. We have to be watchful! Like Paul and Barnabas, we too are imperfect. We make mistakes, fail, sin and disagree. But failure and disagreement should not have the last word if you belong to Jesus Christ. Let the Lord have His way in your disagreement. Then He will work to His praise and glory and your own blessings!
PRAYER: Help us, Lord, to acknowledge You in times of disagreement.
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