Scripture: Acts 15:2
Paul and Barnabas took sides against these Judeans and argued strongly against their position. The church at Antioch appointed Paul, Barnabas, and several others from Antioch to go up to Jerusalem to set this question before the apostles and the elders.
Thought for the Day: Early Christianity had a lot of struggles, disagreements and moments of friction. We probably only have a few of them recorded in the writings of Acts and the Epistles. The issue of whether a convert had to first follow the Jewish Law, including circumcision, before becoming a follower of Jesus was a major bone of contention. Notice how the passage says that Paul and Barnabas argued strongly against the other position. It does not say Paul and Barnabas ridiculed or mocked the other side. They focused on the “Position” and not the personalities. In life, disagreements and conflict often turn personal without ever giving much energy to the actual issue. In the end, we avoid the real issue at the expense of actually seeking God’s dream.
Prayer: Every moment is an opportunity for your healing Spirit to move within our words and actions, O God of Creation. Provide for us a focus on what needs to be done and an appreciation of the people we meet along the way. Amen.
DON’T MISS WEDNESDAY
6:30-7:30pm
The First of Four Sessions
On Conflict Resolution
