{"id":1791,"date":"2019-09-04T09:55:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T17:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1791"},"modified":"2019-09-04T09:55:12","modified_gmt":"2019-09-04T17:55:12","slug":"devotion-acts-1536-41-his-will-be-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=1791","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 15:36-41 His Will Be Done"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 15:36-41<\/b>\u2013<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span>Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, \u201cLet us go back and visit the believers in all the towns\u00a0where we preached the word of the Lord\u00a0and see how they are doing.\u201d<\/i><\/span>\u00a037\u00a0Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,\u00a0with them,<\/span>\u00a038\u00a0but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them\u00a0in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.<\/span>\u00a039\u00a0They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,<\/span>\u00a040\u00a0but Paul chose Silas\u00a0and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.<\/span>\u00a041\u00a0He went through Syria\u00a0and Cilicia,\u00a0strengthening the churches.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSome time later Paul said to Barnabas, \u201cLet us go back and visit the believers in all the towns\u00a0where we preached the word of the Lord\u00a0and see how they are doing.\u201d<\/i><\/span>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Paul and Barnabas had remained in Antioch to continue preaching to and teaching them.\u00a0\u00a0It is thought by some that they stayed during the winter months.\u00a0\u00a0Then as spring came Paul thought it a good time to follow up with those that he and Barnabas had previously ministered to.\u00a0\u00a0As spiritual parents they wanted make sure the \u201ckids\u201d were doing okay.\u00a0\u00a0We must remember that as it is fulfilling the Lords command to witness, we must also always be concerned with the development of those who are new in the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0A baby is not born and then survives on its own.\u00a0\u00a0It must be protected and fed.\u00a0\u00a0Likewise with a newborn saint.\u00a0\u00a0Like a bird of prey from above, the enemy seeks to pounce on the unprotected young.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,\u00a0with them,<\/i><\/span>\u00a038\u00a0but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them\u00a0in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.\u00a0\u00a039\u00a0They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.\u00a0\u00a0. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,<\/span>\u00a040\u00a0but Paul chose Silas\u00a0and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.<\/span>\u00a041\u00a0He went through Syria\u00a0and Cilicia,\u00a0strengthening the churches.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Barnabas and Paul disagreed about whether or not to take John Mark with them. Barnabas wanted to take him.\u00a0\u00a0John Mark was Barnabas\u2019 cousin (Colossians 4:10<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0Certainly the fact that he was family was a factor for Barnabas.\u00a0\u00a0Can\u2019t you just hear the mother and aunt of Barnabas encouraging (strongly) to give John Mark another chance?\u00a0\u00a0After all wouldn\u2019t the Lord, who loves John Mark as much as He loves Barnabas or Paul, want Barnabas to encourage and train John Mark?\u00a0\u00a0Of course He would!\u00a0\u00a0Barnabas could see that John Mark could redeem himself (gain confidence) by going out again as a missionary and thereby become a well-trained tool that the Lord could use.\u00a0\u00a0And in fact, we can see that Barnabas training John Mark later came to be a benefit even to Paul who wrote that John Mark would be a benefit to him in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0John Mark, or Mark, certainly did grow as He not only later helped Paul, but the Lord used him to write the Gospel of Mark.\u00a0\u00a0Surely Barnabas had heard from the Lord in wanting to bring John Mark to encourage and build him up in the Lord.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul did not think it was wise to bring someone whom he considered a weak deserter.\u00a0\u00a0When John Mark, who was young, had been with them earlier, when things got rough and dangerous, he had deserted them.\u00a0\u00a0Paul wanted to bring only so many people and it seemed not wise to bring someone who, when the going got tough, might run away again.\u00a0\u00a0Paul, although said to be a man of small stature, was a tough, no back-down kind of guy.\u00a0\u00a0He was always ready to preach the Gospel (2 Timothy 4:2<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0He did not back down from preaching the Word even if beaten and stoned.\u00a0\u00a0He wanted people who would not back down but who would instead charge ahead and he did not think that John Mark measured up.\u00a0\u00a0Paul was not an unloving man, after all he wrote\u00a01 Corinthians 13:4-8a<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0However, it might seem that keeping \u201cno record of wrongs<\/i>\u201d may have been lacking here.\u00a0\u00a0Yet we know that Paul, as was true of Barnabas, was being led by the Holy Spirit as what has become known as Paul\u2019s Second Missionary Trip would prove to be\u00a0\u00a0greatly used of God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who was right, Paul or Barnabas?\u00a0\u00a0They both were and the fruits of their efforts bear that out.\u00a0\u00a0Did God want them to be in a sharp dispute in front of all the people?\u00a0\u00a0Was it a good witness to those they had taught to forbear and love each other?\u00a0\u00a0No, their argument was not God\u2019s will.\u00a0\u00a0But important to take away from this is that God can use even what we did not do in the best way.\u00a0\u00a0Could an agreement have been worked out between Paul and Barnabas?\u00a0\u00a0Of course.\u00a0\u00a0Surely had Paul relented and let John Mark come along God would have blessed the missionary trip every bit as much.\u00a0\u00a0Surely John Mark would not have deserted them again and would have grown into a great asset to the missionary team.\u00a0\u00a0Did John Mark need to travel on a missionary trip with Paul and Barnabas to be blessed?\u00a0\u00a0Well, obviously not.\u00a0\u00a0But the men, to their own embarrassment, set a bad example to the people.\u00a0\u00a0It was not what the Lord would have wanted.\u00a0\u00a0But the Lord used both Paul and Barnabas in the direction that they thought they were led in.\u00a0\u00a0God finds ways when there seem to be no way (Romans 8:32, Genesis 22:8<\/b>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Family, the will of God is broken down and explained in different ways.\u00a0\u00a0Most of Christianity sees it basically the same.\u00a0\u00a0The point of contention would be if God has allowed people to have free will, or not.\u00a0\u00a0The Word of God is full of examples to show that God has given man free will.\u00a0\u00a0He has given us decrees that He expects us to follow, but since mankind strays from obedience, and disobedience is not God\u2019s will, it is obvious that He has given us free will.\u00a0\u00a0The only reason for the fall of mankind is that Adam and Eve had a free will whether to obey God or not.\u00a0\u00a0However, let\u2019s not toil over man\u2019s free will at this time.\u00a0\u00a0Man has free will because in God\u2019s Sovereign will He has given free will to us.\u00a0\u00a0So we see that from the beginning the perfect will of God (what is perfect and best) is not always (rarely) kept by man.\u00a0\u00a0So, as in this situation with Paul and Barnabas we can easily deduce from Jesus\u2019 statement that love is the highest commandment (Mark 12:29-31<\/b>), and love was not what guided the two men who were sharply arguing.\u00a0\u00a0So what could God do?\u00a0\u00a0Paul and Barnabas angrily went separate ways.\u00a0\u00a0Whom would God bless, if either?\u00a0\u00a0Well Family, God knows how to guide a wild and rebellious clowder of cats.\u00a0\u00a0That being so, even though the idea of mankind having free will seems like it would lead to absolute chaos, we are not considering our abilities, but God\u2019s abilities.\u00a0\u00a0Therefore, God is in control in all circumstances and can make a way when there seems to be no way (Isaiah 43:16-19<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0We know that God is omnipotent and that means that He has unlimited power to do what it is that He desires to do.\u00a0\u00a0He has omniscient so He knows how to do what seems to be impossible.\u00a0\u00a0God can take the imperfect will, the imperfect decisions of man to bring about His perfect will.\u00a0\u00a0The Jews (most) rejected Jesus, so God used their rebellion to save the Gentiles (Romans 11:11<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0It was always the will of God to bring the Gentiles into His flock.\u00a0\u00a0The Jews were called to lead us to Him.\u00a0\u00a0They fell short of that so God used them anyhow. So God\u2019s perfect will, His sovereign will came to be, even though man had fallen short.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The two things we know for sure is that God wanted the new converts to be encouraged and strengthened and He also wanted John Mark to be strengthened and encouraged.\u00a0\u00a0These were not necessarily mutually exclusive as it came about to be through the arguing of the two apostles.\u00a0\u00a0It could have been worked out.\u00a0\u00a0But then again, who is to say that Paul and Barnabas were supposed to remain together?\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps God had different plans for both of them just as He did for Peter and John (John 21:21-22<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps they needn\u2019t have disagreeably separated, but could have lovingly done so.\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps they could have quieted themselves and let the Spirit bring them to a peaceable resolution.\u00a0\u00a0However, it is too often that even the best of the saints, the most knowledgeable and most used of us, can get caught up in thinking they know what\u2019s right, or best, instead of seeking God.\u00a0\u00a0Usually that is not best.\u00a0\u00a0However, and praise God who leads feral clowders.\u00a0\u00a0He also brings rebellious men together.\u00a0\u00a0And this same unlimited God knows how to bring about His will, whatever the circumstance.\u00a0\u00a0Since He can spit on dirt to heal a man of blindness (John 9:1-<\/b>7<\/strong>) He can also bring about His will though men are not always listening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally that does not mean what will be will be.\u00a0\u00a0No, not in any way.\u00a0\u00a0God has given us free will and the very definition of free will means that every step is not always the right one.\u00a0\u00a0Yet, our God, who is beyond our understanding, knows how to make everything right.\u00a0\u00a0Things may be a mess, but we know that ultimately, now or later, God will make it right.\u00a0\u00a0We may die in pain but we will rise out of pain and in victory.\u00a0\u00a0In the end God wins and He knows how to make sure we also do.\u00a0\u00a0In fact, He has already made those who love Jesus victors.\u00a0\u00a0Eternal victors.\u00a0\u00a0Praise our God who is so good to us!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/span><\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Psalm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 15:36-41\u2013\u00a0Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, \u201cLet us go back and visit the believers in all the towns\u00a0where we preached the word of the Lord\u00a0and see how they are doing.\u201d\u00a037\u00a0Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,\u00a0with them,\u00a038\u00a0but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them\u00a0in Pamphylia…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,1863,129,1865,103,100,93,94,1874,17,10,2036],"class_list":["post-1791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-colossians","tag-corinthians","tag-genesis","tag-isaiah","tag-john","tag-mark","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-psalm","tag-romans","tag-timothy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1791"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1792,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1791\/revisions\/1792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}