Thursday Thought -- May 22, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:36-41)

Perhaps this seems like a strange incident to include in the New Testament: two of the best known leaders in the early church disagreeing with each other to the point that they parted company. It’s the kind of incident that we’d leave out of the history of our local church. We celebrate and document the victories and minimize or ignore the problems.

But God is not interested in glossing over the problems of the church -- read 1 Corinthians, Galatians, and most of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. The New Testament portrays the early church as it really was --- people who loved and followed God, but still had problems that had to be dealt with. I find encouragement and hope in that portrayal because I know that’s what I’m like and what the church I serve is like. For the most part, I have a good heart and I honestly want to serve the Lord, but I still struggle with selfishness and stubbornness and several other kinds of sins. And every person in the congregation I’m a part of is just like me --- oh, their problems may be a little different, but they are still sinners, just like I am.

I thank God that He used sinners in the early church and still uses sinners today!

And note this, because of the disagreement Paul and Barnabas had, two companies of missionaries were sent out instead of just one! So, God took their argument and used it to accomplish something good. After all, that’s exactly what God promised He would do – “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28) That doesn’t mean that God was pleased with their disagreement, any more than He is pleased with our sin, but He can even take sin and turn it to accomplish something good.

Now that’s something encouraging!

His, by Grace,

Steve