Trade you a Barnabas for a Silas

Acts 15:36-41

New International Version (NIV)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Often times, the pain of separating is compounded by the fact there may not be an immediate replacement for the one you lost.  You can actually hold on to what is left of a relationship because you fear walking the rest of your life alone.  God knows that we are relational and are made to fellowship with mankind.  He did not create man without some sort of counterpart.  God said in the book of Genesis that is was not good for man to be alone. He then created woman and through that union he created family and through that union, he created community.  You don't have to exist by yourself when someone decides to go their separate ways.  By the shear exponential multiplication of Adam and Eve, we have towns, cities and countries full of people who can grab your hand when you need one to hold.  Now, the enemy, who is a diminisher, wants you to take your desires and put them in a fishbowl and then say that no one loves you.  Sometimes, we place ourselves in such small and insufficient places and complain that we are lonely.  You are only lonely because where you are is a lonely place.  Relationships could be one system away.  Reach out to someone and create the community that you need.  James Taylor sung a song about a woman who not only lost the relationship with her husband, but lost the community that came with it.  In the aftermath of living, someone calls to let her know that she still has someone to love her, even if it is not the one she thought would love her.  It is good to know that God always has a ram in the bush.  He truly indeed is a good savior.

God, I thank you for such a beautiful morning and a great time to realize that my life is not as empty as I previously thought it to be.  Help me to see the great and vast amount of people who are in my life everyday.  Help me to visit other systems that can be as close as across the street and as far away and the local IHOP.  God I pray that you take the blinders off and allow me to see all that are with me.  Amen.



Her Town Too
http://youtu.be/DQj2jJSfZP4