I used to think that Gods gifts were on shelves one above the other, and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that Gods gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His bests gifts.
F.B. Meyer
And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
Acts 15:39-40 NASB
How could two Spirit filled Christian men, who had worked together for several years in a ministry of reaching out to the lost, have a personality conflict so great that it would split up the team? It just doesnt seem possible to me that Paul and Barnabas could split up. Why they even had been beaten together for the cause of the Lord Jesus. As I read this chapter this morning I have become involved in the squabble between Paul and Barnabas, and fail to see the larger picture and how God was working out even the smallest details in each of their ministries. The reason for the personality conflict between Paul and Barnabas was Mark. Earlier when they had started out to tell the peoples on the European continent of the Love of Jesus and the great gift of grace and forgiveness given by God to all men, Mark bailed out right after they first got started. They had many hardships on that journey and Paul probably thought that they really could have used Mark along to help out. No doubt Mark was young and possibly got homesick.
As they started out again to visit the churchs they had started, Paul was against taking Mark, and therefore the conflict. As I look at the big picture I see how it would have been a major mistake to leave Mark alone and feeling rejected. He needed somebody on his side, even if he had been a bad boy. Barnabas left the ninety-nine for the one. What an act of grace to stoop down and encourage someone discouraged. It would have been easy for Mark after being rejected to just give up on the whole church thing. But Barnabas encouraged him and several years later we find Paul on death row writing a letter to Timothy asking that when he comes to visit to bring with him Mark for he is useful to me for service. (2 Timothy 4:11)
In AA we read something at every meeting that says we should put principles before personalities, how difficult this is. I am learning that I will not like everyone, but for my own serenity I must love and forgive everyone. This is something I must practice daily. I am so grateful for the Word of God that has shown me that even through conflicts of personalities, Gods purpose still is working. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself JRE
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NASB
********************
I believe that each individual is precious to God, and that a divine undefeatable purpose is being worked out in every life; a life that goes on after death. A thousand things happen to us which are not the will of God, but nothing can happen to us which can defeat His purpose at last.
Leslie D. Weatherhead
F.B. Meyer
And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
Acts 15:39-40 NASB
How could two Spirit filled Christian men, who had worked together for several years in a ministry of reaching out to the lost, have a personality conflict so great that it would split up the team? It just doesnt seem possible to me that Paul and Barnabas could split up. Why they even had been beaten together for the cause of the Lord Jesus. As I read this chapter this morning I have become involved in the squabble between Paul and Barnabas, and fail to see the larger picture and how God was working out even the smallest details in each of their ministries. The reason for the personality conflict between Paul and Barnabas was Mark. Earlier when they had started out to tell the peoples on the European continent of the Love of Jesus and the great gift of grace and forgiveness given by God to all men, Mark bailed out right after they first got started. They had many hardships on that journey and Paul probably thought that they really could have used Mark along to help out. No doubt Mark was young and possibly got homesick.
As they started out again to visit the churchs they had started, Paul was against taking Mark, and therefore the conflict. As I look at the big picture I see how it would have been a major mistake to leave Mark alone and feeling rejected. He needed somebody on his side, even if he had been a bad boy. Barnabas left the ninety-nine for the one. What an act of grace to stoop down and encourage someone discouraged. It would have been easy for Mark after being rejected to just give up on the whole church thing. But Barnabas encouraged him and several years later we find Paul on death row writing a letter to Timothy asking that when he comes to visit to bring with him Mark for he is useful to me for service. (2 Timothy 4:11)
In AA we read something at every meeting that says we should put principles before personalities, how difficult this is. I am learning that I will not like everyone, but for my own serenity I must love and forgive everyone. This is something I must practice daily. I am so grateful for the Word of God that has shown me that even through conflicts of personalities, Gods purpose still is working. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself JRE
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NASB
********************
I believe that each individual is precious to God, and that a divine undefeatable purpose is being worked out in every life; a life that goes on after death. A thousand things happen to us which are not the will of God, but nothing can happen to us which can defeat His purpose at last.
Leslie D. Weatherhead
