Author: Brian Burdett

“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, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.” – Acts 15:39-40

Sometimes we simply can’t come to an agreement when a decision must be made. While Christians should always be seeking godly consensus, the Bible reminds us that even the greatest heroes of the faith can reach a point where consensus and compromise are impossible. Barnabas and Paul simply can’t resolve the issue of whether or not to bring Mark along on their mission trip after his past failure.

There are several valuable lessons for today in this story. One is that when we disagree, we must do so in a way that isn’t sinful and doesn’t destroy the relationship. While they sharply disagree, there is nothing to indicate that either Paul or Barnabas sinned or closed to the door to relationship with one another.

A second is to not let an unresolved disagreement between believers knock us off the field. Sometimes when we get in a hot dispute, we want to retreat within ourselves or give up afterward. It’s certainly discouraging! However, both Paul and Barnabas immediately continued on mission for God rather than giving up in frustration and disappointment. In this regard, their disagreement actually may have increased their impact for God’s Kingdom.

A third is to always leave room for reconciliation. Though Mark’s participation in the team was the source of the disagreement, we know that by the end of his life, Paul and Mark were fully reconciled. In fact, Paul considered Mark very useful to his ministry. Because we are responsible for the ministry of reconciliation, we must always be in a posture that’s both open to reconciliation and actively seeking reconciliation. This allows disagreements to later be resolved in a way that bring tremendous glory to God and often makes relationships stronger than before.

“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
– Acts 13:47-48

The Gentiles in the audience rejoiced at Paul’s words, because they understood that they were included in God’s plan! To the extent they’d previously known about God, they knew they weren’t part of His family or plan for the world. They’d always been outsiders, different, and separated from the holy God of Israel. All that is changed through Jesus Christ!

In quoting the Old Testament, Paul explained that God’s plan had always been to include them through the appointed Messiah. At last, their time had arrived, and all who believed in Jesus would receive eternal life!

This remains true today. Nobody is outside of God’s plan if they will simply put their faith in Jesus Christ. So, who do you know that needs to hear the good news that they’re included in God’s plan? Who do you know that thinks there’s no way God could ever accept them or love them? Share this good news and introduce them to Jesus, the One through Whom we’re washed clean and adopted into God’s family.

“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” – Acts 13:38-39

This is the good news of Jesus Christ! Through faith in Jesus, the Christ who died on the cross and rose from the dead, all our sins are graciously forgiven by God. We are set free from all that enslaved us.

We are freed from the power of sin over our lives. Not only are we forgiven, but we finally have the ability through Christ to reject sin and live lives of holiness. Thankfully we are also assured that when we do slip up and sin, that too will be forgiven when we ask in repentance.

We are freed from the power and inevitability of death. Though we will die (unless Christ returns first), all who are in Christ will share in His resurrection, rising from the dead and entering the presence of God. Death is simply a doorway into our glorious eternal future!

We are freed from the crushing weight and futility of trying to save ourselves from our sins by rule-following and perfect behavior. Because God is perfect and holy, He cannot permit sin into His presence. Because we aren’t perfect, we can’t help but separate ourselves from Him by our sin. No amount of good works or rule following will ever be enough to bridge that separation. We will exhaust ourselves and sink into despair from trying. However, Christ sacrificed Himself to bridge that gap!

In Christ, we are free from all these things! By God’s grace, we are free to become who we were made to be in relationship to the God whose image we bear. Thank you Lord Jesus for freeing us from all that would enslave us!

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” – Acts 13:2

Many years earlier, Saul of Tarsus (whom we call the Apostle Paul) had dramatically encountered the resurrected Jesus on the Damascus Road and been converted to Christianity. At that time, he learned that his purpose in life was to preach Christ to Jews, Gentiles, and kings. However, after an initial flurry of activity, more than a decade passed in relative obscurity.

Finally, the time was right and the Holy Spirit launched Barnabas and Saul on the first of several mission trips. These would spread the gospel and plant vibrant churches in many places.

In today’s no-wait immediate-gratification culture, it’s hard to accept that God often patiently works His plans over many years or that He might call someone into service, but make that person quietly prepare for more than a decade before activating him or her. Nonetheless we see that pattern several times in the Bible. Preparation and patience matter if we want to fulfill God’s calling upon our lives.

If we’re impatient for “something bigger”, we must learn to be patient and move on God’s schedule rather than our own, seeking to understand His big picture understanding rather than our short-sighted view of things. God may well call us to an extended season of preparation: learning, reflecting, maturing, practicing, and increasing in holiness before launching us into the primary ministry which we know in our bones is waiting for us.

This isn’t an excuse for inaction, but to learn to truly walk in step with the Holy Spirit, neither running ahead of Him in eagerness and self-confidence, nor lagging behind Him in fear or comfort.

“A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
– Proverbs 15:1

As we navigate a world full of outrage and outrages, it can be easy to forget how God wants us to speak His truth! His people are called, counseled, and commanded to speak with a distinct tone and attitude of firm gentleness. Not everyone will agree with what we have to say, but we mustn’t let harshness on our part be the reason for that.

Any fool can get angry. The Spirit-filled followers of Jesus Christ are called to get gentle. As we stand firmly and speak boldly and gently for what is right amidst an angry world full of evil and injustice, we must do so with the gentle firmness of Jesus Christ Himself.

Christian, do not add to the harshness, bitterness, and anger that are poisoning discourse in person and online!