Day 320/365- Acts 15:39-41

"Agree to disagree"

Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. (Acts 15:39-41 NLT)

Even in the church, disagreements are inevitable. It's a sad but true fact. Many churches disagree over the silliest of things & many are wounded because of it. While we should seek to agree with one another & love each other, sometimes we just will not see eye to eye. And if the apostle Paul experienced this, it gives me hope that we can navigate disagreements in the body as well (unless the disagreement is about carpet color).

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along for the ministry but Paul did not. They disagreed on John Mark's usefulness. Something Paul eventually came around to by the way. But here, they could not agree.

So Barnabas took John Mark & went out on mission while Paul took Silas & did the same. And while they did not agree & they went their separate ways, consider the result. "Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there."

Both of these men saw the kingdom of God expanded & ministry multiplied in the midst of disagreeing. Instead of just one team going out, the disagreement saw two teams going out, doubling their missionary effort. Now, I realize this is looking at the glass half full but I think we should be mindful of this when we don't see eye to eye.

The question that should take precedence over every other issue is this, "How can we expand the kingdom of God in the midst of disagreement?" Because in the end, it's not important that we agree on every little thing, but it is absolutely crucial that the kingdom of God is expanded. It's not essential that I'm right or you are right but that God's kingdom is furthered. We don't have to agree but we do have to cooperate. Do you see the difference?

So the next time we have conflict, we have two options. See it as an end pass that cannot be reconciled, or see it as an opportunity for the kingdom to be expanded. Paul & Barnabas were able to accomplish the later & we should as well.