The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 April  2023 – TOPIC: HANDLING CONFLICTS IN THE CHURCH

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TOPIC: HANDLING CONFLICTS IN THE CHURCH

READ: ACTS 15: 36-41 (NKJV)

15:36. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they are doing.”

15:37. Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

15:38. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

15:39. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

15:40. but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

15:41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

THE MESSAGE:

It was Paul’s idea that he and Barnabas should go back and visit brethren where they had preached before and see how they fared. Barnabas determined to take along John called Mark whose life we are commemorating today. However, Paul rejected going with Mark because he abandoned them in an earlier mission. Since they could not solve the problem of Mark’s inclusion, they parted ways. Hence, Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus while Paul chose Silas and left for the Churches in Syria and Cilicia.

A good idea may be thwarted due to disagreement on methods or choice of personnel for the work. We must trust God to make things work out for the good of the kingdom. Paul, Barnabas and Mark would have gone on mission as a team. However, due to the contention, two evangelistic teams emerged and the Gospel was spread to Cyprus by one team while the other team went to Syria and Cilicia for follow-up activities. Notice that this contention produced a positive result for the spreading of the Gospel. Do you have a contention with a friend, neighbour, business partner or in the Church on how to carry out a mission? Do not allow such contentions to disrupt the work of God. Hand it over to God in prayers and move on.

PRAYER: Lord give me wisdom to know how to handle conflicts so that Your work will not suffer loss in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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