The Story of Paul and Barnabas.

 

When I was reading the Word For Today in my UCB booklet. The story of Paul and Barnabas pulled my attention, because I had just heard this story recently. So let's see what comes up from this 

When I looked back I found that the story was from Terry's Zoom meeting on the 3rd February 2022. It's funny were I am feeling strife around, is from my brother Tommy and this is his birthday 3rd February. So let's see what I can gain from the Word to help me with "STRIFE" 

The scripture that night we read was from Acts 15: 36-41. In the meeting Terry said the meaning of Barnabas name was "SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT". So I hope I find encouragement from The Lords Word to help with the stife in my life just now.

Insights From my Life Recovery Bible ..

15:36-41 Recovery and spiritual growth are processes we never complete-a fact demonstrated in the conflict between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark. Paul could not forgive John Mark for abandoning them on the first missionary journey (see 13:13-14). This resulted in a sharp disagree. ment and split between Paul and Barnabas. Even as mature men of faith, Paul and Barnabas had to deal with conflict and anger. They still needed to examine their motives and make amends. We know from Paul's letters that all three later reconciled, due in part to Barnabas's willingness to take John Mark with him. Like these godly men, we are never beyond the need for recovery and restoration.

Insight From UCB Word For Today ..Thursday 17th February 2022

Where There Is Strife, Sow Seeds Of Peace'For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work' James 3:16(KJV)

When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.' James 3:18 (CEV).

When a well-known pastor was asked by a sceptic, 'Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?' he smiled and replied, 'Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?' Seriously, if you have been a church member for any length of time, you know that strife rears its ugly head in the family of God just like it does everywhere else. 

Paul and Barnabas, a brilliant ministry team, allowed their differences over John Mark to separate them to where they could no longer work together. Later Paul changed his mind, but the die was already cast. He appealed 'to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News' (Philippians 4:2-3 NLT).

Strife hinders our prayers, takes our focus off lost souls, and makes us ineffective in our ministry. We must learn to respect each other's talents, perspectives and positions instead of envying them. In other words, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. The Bible says: 'For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace' (James 3:16-18 NKJV).

God blesses peacemakers (see Matthew 5:9), so when strife arises in your church, make it your mission to sow seeds of peace!

Insights from My Devotional Think Like Jesus(Timeless Wisdom From The Parables) by Dave Williey...DAY 6 What God Hates “God hates six things and seven things he truly detests: eyes that look down on other people, a tongue that speaks lies, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that harbors evil motives, feet that run into sin, a dishonest witness who brings false accusations, and a person who intentionally brings drama and division into a family.”

 PROVERBS 6:16-19 God is the embodiment of love, so some people are surprised to learn in Scripture that God is capable of “hate.” They scratch their heads in confusion. How can an all-loving God hate anything? The Bible teaches us that it’s precisely because God so fully loves His children that He’s able to so fiercely hate those things which harm his children. In this list from Proverbs chapter six, we see a list of some of the things God hates. This is a window into the mind and heart of our loving heavenly Father. Each listed item is an action which directly harms God’s children and attempts to sabotage His blessings for them. Each item on this list hurts both the victims of the heinous actions and the perpetrators, who dehumanize themselves by devaluing God’s laws and other people. God hates eyes that look down on other people because He has created all people in His image with dignity and eternal significance. God hates a tongue that speaks lies because it’s the truth that sets us free. God hates hands that shed innocent blood because He never wants His children to suffer needless harm. He hates a heart that harbors evil motives because such a heart makes no room for Jesus, who is our only Savior and Lord. He hates feet that run into sin because sin hurts everyone. He hates a dishonest witness because false testimony perverts the path of justice. He hates someone who stirs up drama and division in a family because God desires that His children live together in love and unity. We are called to be people after God’s own heart. This list of what God hates is more than just a warning of behaviors to avoid. While we should obviously avoid the hated attitudes and actions on this list, we’re called to more than avoidance. This list helps us clarify God’s plans and purposes in our own lives and in the world around us. If we’ll continue walking with God and learning from Him, our hearts should be steered toward loving the things He loves and hating the things He hates. As an example, this righteous anger within Jesus caused him to flip over the money-changer’s tables in the temple and drive them out with whips. Jesus—the embodiment of love—was capable of this holy rage because He has the heart of God. His love for people caused Him to be enraged at behaviors that exploited people or erected barriers between people and God. There are times when we should feel a righteous anger too. There are times when we should allow that anger to prompt us to act. When we see the vile exploitations of human trafficking, we should fight for the freedom of the enslaved. When we see lies perverting the course of justice, we should boldly declare the truth and be willing to fight to protect it. When we see injustices being celebrated, we should be compelled to sacrifice our own comforts to protect the justices of others. An important caveat here is to remember that, while we should boldly stand on God’s truth, we’re not called or qualified to judge every aspect of the world around us. If we’re not careful, we can fall into a legalistic pattern of judgment and completely miss the heart of Jesus in the process. This is what happened to the Pharisees of Jesus’s day. They loved the rules more than they loved God. If a righteous anger stirs within you, let it be directed first at your own sin. Only then will you have the humble spirit necessary to remove the plank from your own eye before helping someone else take the speck of sawdust out of their eye. Prayer for Today Lord, help heal our broken world. We’re overwhelmed by the injustices we see all around us, and we often feel powerless to bring positive change. Give us a courageous heart which loves people and hates injustice. Help me speak boldly when I need to and help me keep silent when I need to. Help me discern which situations require immediate actions and which ones require patience. Thank You, Lord, that one day You will set all things right and make all things new. Start by doing a work in me. Forgive me for the times I’ve done things You hate. Turn my heart completely toward You so I can be an instrument of your grace—bringing your kingdom, justice, and love to the broken world around me. In Jesus’s name, amen. The Bible teaches us that it’s precisely because God so fully loves His children that He’s able to so fiercely hate those things which harm his children.