In my Bible study this morning (Beth Moore's To Live is Christ) I was reading about the split between Paul and Barnabas over whether John Mark should accompany them on their next mission. This is a very hard scripture. It is hard to think of two people who were such followers of Christ disagreeing so strongly. As always though, God used this to further his kingdom. Paul and Barnabas had experienced a lot together and scripture tells us that there were strong emotions between the two. Paul had been mentored by Barnabas, but had now grown so strong that he could disagree with his mentor. It is not that one was right and the other was wrong. It was that the Holy Spirit gave them different answers for a reason. Without the split Paul and Barnabas would have been content to serve together the rest of their lives, but there was John Mark and Timothy who both needed mentors. By their division the work of Christ was multiplied.
It is interesting that Paul always works with someone. His letters have much to say about relationships. I wonder how many of the things he had to learn the hard way. Of course some of the most beautiful inspired words of the Holy Scriptures are found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, a letter written about Christian conduct in the church:
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered, It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Oh Lord, Teach us to love each other.
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