Read: Acts 15:36-41
Meditation verse:
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32.
As humans, conflict is inevitable in our relationships. Even among faithful believers, disagreements will arise. The Bible does not gloss over this reality. In Acts 15, we see a sharp disagreement between two spiritual giants—Paul and Barnabas.
When planning their second missionary journey, they clashed over whether to take Mark, the young man who had abandoned them during their earlier travels. Paul insisted that Mark had proven unreliable, while Barnabas believed in giving him another chance. This wasn’t just a minor disagreement – it was significant enough to cause them to part ways.
Paul took Silas and went one way; Barnabas took Mark and went another. But here’s the beautiful part of the story: God still used both paths. Their separation didn’t hinder the mission; it multiplied it.
Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), had a history of believing in people others doubted. When Paul first became a believer, the disciples in Jerusalem were wary of him because of his past persecution of Christians. It was Barnabas who stood up for him, advocating on his behalf and opening the door for him to be accepted. Ironically, Paul—once a recipient of grace—was now unwilling to extend it to someone else.
How often do we behave the same way? We forget the grace we’ve received and close our hearts to those who have failed us. But God is in the business of restoration. Later in life, Paul acknowledged Mark’s usefulness in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11), proving that Barnabas’ faith in him was not misplaced.
What relationship have you abandoned because of a past offense? Is there someone you’ve written off as a failure? Maybe it’s time to revisit that decision. Restoration doesn’t always mean things will go back to the way they were—but it does mean choosing grace over bitterness, forgiveness over resentment, and hope over finality. God uses imperfect people and broken situations to accomplish His perfect will.
The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas led to the expansion of the gospel. Sometimes, even in conflict, God is at work. Who do you need to give a second chance today.
IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye
Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)
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