Acts 15:36-41
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Reflection
Though Paul and Barnabas were unable to come to an agreement about whether or not to bring Mark on the trip to visit the churches, later writings demonstrate Paul’s ongoing respect for Barnabas (1 Cor. 9:6) and his future partnership with Mark (Col. 4:10; Philem. 24).
The tension between these two leaders illustrates that even godly servants of Christ will face interpersonal conflict. Only the gospel can strengthen us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave [us]” (Eph. 4:32). Because of his mercy and love, we can reconcile and continue to love one another even if we do not see eye-to-eye.
Revelation 4:1-11
4: After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
0 “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Reflection
John writes to harassed churches facing persecution and suffering (Rev. 2:9– 10; 3:9–10). He identifies with them, having been exiled to Patmos for “the word of God,” and “the testimony of Jesus” (1:9; cf. 1:2). In the midst of these difficult circumstances, John is invited into the heavenly throne room and sees the Lord God Almighty on the throne (4:2), reigning and being worshiped by the high-ranking officials of his heavenly court (vv. 6–10).
The knowledge that God is seated on his heavenly throne, being worshiped as he rightly deserves, is supposed to encourage persecuted Christians who seem like a small, insignificant minority in the face of the wicked world. God in heaven rules all things. One day this rule will cover the earth and bring all evil and darkness to a final end. Christ’s death and resurrection ensure this.
Psalm 41:4
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
Christians are not immune to interpersonal conflict. Ask God to help you work through any relational tensions you may be facing. Pray for the humility and love you will need to handle your responsibilities in the relationship.