Acts 15:36-16:5

Be still: Take 5 minutes to sit in silence and breathe slowly. 

Read: Acts 15:36-16:5 

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. (v39) 

Encounter: I find this verse so heart-breaking and sad. After all that they’d been through together, all that they’d experienced of God’s love and grace, these spirit-filled men couldn’t work it out and ended up going their separate ways after being together for so long. It’s so sad. I’d like to think if I was there, I could have helped them work out a compromise but I’m probably overestimating myself. I wish the text went into more detail about what tipped them over the edge and whether their parting was sad but civil or angry and fiery. 

Apply: Obviously we don’t know the details, but I find it hard to get my head around that neither of them could compromise. At the heart of that would ultimately be pride which I guess not even these heroes of the faith would be immune to. Maybe it was a bit of a blind spot? Makes me wonder what my equivalent is? Maybe there’s pride in my heart I’m not even aware of that needs uprooting? 

Devote: Jesus, I’m sorry for any area in my life/heart where I’ve allowed pride to slip in. Please forgive me, and by your grace uproot it and teach me your way of being instead.