Agreeing to Disagree and Second Chances

Acts 15:37-41

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.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

If you will remember from Acts 13:13, John Mark (the nephew of Barnabas) left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their first missionary journey. No explanation was given for his departure, however the strong language of our passage today makes it is clear that Paul considered taking Mark along again to be foolish because Mark had already proven himself to be undependable ("he deserted them in Pamphylia"). A clue perhaps to the reason for Mark's departure is found at the beginning of Acts 13:13 "...Paul and his companions." Up until this time it had always been Barnabas and Paul..., Barnabas and Paul..., it now had become Paul and his companions. I wonder if Mark got a little angry that Paul had taken over the reins of leadership from his Uncle Barnabas and as a result went back to Jerusalem in youthful protest, "I'm not going to work for that guy!"

Clearly age and experience improved their relationship as later in 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul asks for Mark to be sent to him, "...because he is helpful to me in my ministry." That's a pretty big turnaround in Paul's opinion of Mark. So who was right about Mark, Paul or Barnabas? I think they both were. I don't know about you, but I see the Lord's hand at work here. First, Paul goes back out with Silas on his typically intense missionary expedition. While Barnabas takes his nephew Mark with him on his own journey. They agreed to disagree and two missions instead of one were the result.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Have you ever needed a second chance? How about a third and fourth? Who gave it to you and why? Did you make the best of it? Who in your life has let you down? Would you consider giving him/her another chance? Do you judge others more harshly than yourself?

Questions to Ponder:

When was the last time you checked in on the seeds of faith you planted? How are they doing? Do they need some attention? Many times it is the first person who brought us to Christ that becomes our most influential memory. Who planted the first seed in you? Wouldn't it be meaningful to let that person know how much that seed has grown and how much fruit is being produced? Be an encourager -- make a call today -- Go back and check in!

Speaking Encouragement to Strengthen

Acts 15:30-32

The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

As the story goes, on Valentine's Day one year the pastor of a local church decided to offer a ceremony for all married couples to renew their wedding vows. When the pastor asked one of the more elderly men in the congregation if he and his wife would like to participate, the answer was an emphatic, "No." The pastor asked, "But wouldn't you like to express your love to your wife one more time?" The grizzled veteran of marriage answered, "I told her once fifty years ago, 'I love you', and if I ever change my mind I'll let her know." Now that's a funny story, but I've always wondered how the wife must have felt about her husband's answer. Sure the wife had the original ceremony, piece of paper (marriage certificate), ring, and the presence of her husband for fifty years, and certainly actions speak louder than words; but let's face it -- sometimes it is comforting to hear those encouraging words, "I love you," from time to time.

In our passage today, Judas, Silas, with Paul and Barnabas had come to Antioch with a letter of instruction from the church in Jerusalem. The letter did much to clarify to what degree the Mosaic Law would continue to be observed by new Gentile believers (which we have covered in much detail in previous devotions). There are two things I find particularly interesting in the role of Judas and Silas in this event: the first, they "said much," and second, what they said was to, "...encourage and strengthen the brothers." Too often I see people who either say too much or don't speak at all, neither of which are encouraging or strengthening. It's sometimes difficult to understand how the right words of encouragement can be so strengthening, yet how the wrong words (or no words at all) can contribute to such defeat and emptiness.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Ask your friends, wife (or husband), children and parents, "Do I say too much or not enough? Do my words encourage and strengthen, or do they have the opposite effect? Your words will typically follow your intention when you begin speaking. Therefore the next time, before you speak, ask the Lord to give you words which encourage and strengthen according to His will, just like Judas and Silas.

Causing Friction

Acts 15:17b-18

[James speaking] "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

 

 

Thoughts for Today:

James is saying that if the Law through Moses had the power to save, it would have already done so, "For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." He also says, "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood." When you look at this list (food polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat of strangled animals, and blood), you might think it odd that sexual immorality would be included with the rest, and to a certain degree it is because it deals with a moral issue while the other three are about sensitivity to the Jewish culture. I think James is really saying, "If Gentile believers would abstain from these things, then they would not only please God, but also get along better with us, their Jewish brothers and sisters." I'm sure the Gentile believers were participating in other inappropriate activities; however these were the big four. This compromise, (one of the reasons James is known as James the Just) allowed the church to grow without the constant friction of major cultural differences between the Jews and the Gentiles.

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:23, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." He then further explains in verses 31-32, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jew, Gentile or the church of God." Many times when we violate another person's sensitivity by exercising our own personal freedom, we cause another to stumble; which can lead to friction and a rift within the body of Christ. This is the issue that James and later Paul were addressing.

 

 

Questions to Ponder:

Is there a behavior that another Christian displays that really rubs you the wrong way? Does the Bible prohibit this behavior? Could it be that you need to be more tolerant of another's expression of their God given freedom?

Let's say instead others are offended by something you do that you believe is not prohibited by Scripture -- "everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." Is what you're doing "for the glory of God"? Is it beneficial? Do you need to re-think your approach?

“Scripture speaks & thoughts are heard by His”

Luke 11:9 (KJV)
And I say unto you,
Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

You may not give others what you have experienced, but you may cause them to have the desire to seek such an experience for themselves.

Are you showing others the good and joy that your experience has given you ?

Be Content

October 2, 2012— byC. P. Hia Our Daily Bread

Contentment is hard to attain.
 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. —Philippians 4:11

Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content. It was not a natural character trait for him.
For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of this writing, he was in jail in Rome. Charged with sedition, treason, and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Caesar himself. Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard. It seems as if Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person. Instead, he wrote to the Philippians to say that he had learned to be content.

How did he learn this? One step at a time until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments. He learned to accept whatever came his way (v.12) and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give (vv.14-18). And most important, he recognized that God was supplying all he needed (v.19).

Contentment is not natural for any of us. The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, to complain, and to covet. Few of us are in a predicament such as Paul’s, but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content.

 

O Lord, give me the grace to be
Content with what You give to me.
No, more than that, let me rejoice
In all You send, for it’s Your choice! —Anon.

 

Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for everything you possess.

How To Get Respect

Acts 15:13

When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me."

Thoughts for Today:

Taking the floor now was James, the half brother of Jesus, also called James the Just and James the righteous. Hegesippus tells us that James spent so much time in prayer that "his knees were reputed to have acquired the hardness of camel knees." Many Bible historians and commentators believe that James was the head of the church in Jerusalem (which was the center of the new Christian faith). This is further supported by the comment made by Peter when he was miraculously freed from prison and had to flee Jerusalem -- he asks in Acts 12:17 for James to be informed; in our text today as well as in numerous other passages it appears that James at minimum was one of the key leaders if not the leader of the church.

So how did James acquire such great respect and authority? If we asked some of our business leaders or young people today, they would say that respect comes from "personal power." From their perspective, it comes from the power you have over other people, in the sense that you can manipulate or threaten them. But is that really respect, or fear?

Respect comes from the positive of who you are, what you've done, and how you do it; fear comes from the negative. One is the definition of security, the other is based in insecurity. One leader knows who he is, the other is trying to prove something. Which are you?

James the Just, James the Righteous, James the camel-kneed one -- that is the kind of earthly man I respect. How did James rise to this position of great respect? By getting on his knees and staying on his knees -- not asking for power and position -- but asking for wisdom, knowledge and the humility to do the Lord's will, not his own. If you want real respect, follow James' example.
 

Questions to Ponder:

Are you respect-worthy? How much time each day do you spend in prayer? What do you pray for? Is it for the Lord to take the desire to sin away from you (righteousness or right living)?

Wisdom comes from the ability to look past the surface and the superficial into the heart of a problem. When was the last time you prayed for wisdom? Just means to be fair. That would be an awesome trait to possess; to be known as someone who will make a fair or just decision. So how do we become known for such characteristics? We become known for something because we do it repeatedly; over and over again in our workplaces, our marriages, and our homes.

A big problem in our society is we want respect without being respectful; we want to be thought of as wise but we don't want to be a student first; and we want to be thought just when our position is always every man for himself. Take a long hard look at yourself: What will it take to make you worthy of respect? Start with the example of James -- on your knees.