Seperation
November 23, 2008
Acts 15:36-40 (WEB)
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
38 But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Many people think that having a difference of opinion is not a good thing. I think it is. If we were all the same there would be no difference in the world. If we were all in 100% agreement, sometimes the Lord's work would not get done as efficiently. Take Paul and Barnabas for example. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them as they went out and spread the word. Paul thought better of it and did not want him to go, after all he had turned tail and ran away once before. So they separated and went their own ways. And do you know what happened. Each did more that if they had worked together. While Barnabas did his work, Paul did his, no overlap and twice as much got done.
Sometimes disagreement is God given.
