Don’t Break Up the Team - Unity in God’s Work
Today’s Scripture - Acts 15:39–40
“And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.”
Cowboy Wisdom Devotional
Out on the trail, there’s nothing more dangerous than two cowboys who can’t agree on which way to go. One pulls the herd east, the other pulls west, and while they’re busy jawing at each other, the cattle scatter in every direction. What started as a disagreement over the trail ends up costing them the whole drive. Doesn’t matter one lick who was right — the herd is gone, and it’s both their faults.
That’s what happened with Paul and Barnabas — two of the toughest, most faithful trail partners the early church had ever seen. They’d faced down angry mobs, been run out of towns, and stared danger in the face without flinching. But when it came to a disagreement about whether to give John Mark a second chance, neither man would give an inch. Their stubbornness did what persecution never could — it split them apart. One of the greatest missionary teams ever formed was dissolved, not by enemies, but by their own hard heads.
And the new believers were watching. Think about that. These young Christians had heard Paul and Barnabas preach about love, forgiveness, and the grace of God. Now they watched these same two men go at each other so hard they couldn’t even ride together anymore. If the preachers can’t live it, why should the listeners believe it? Some say God used the split to form two teams, and maybe He did — God can use anything. But make no mistake, this isn’t God’s way of doing things. Anytime Christians battle it out because of hard-headedness, the work of God suffers. There could have been lost people on the borderline of faith who heard about this fight and turned away from Christ.
Two cowboys fighting over which trail to take will lose the whole herd while they’re arguing. The mission is always bigger than the disagreement, partner. Always. Only God knows what could have happened if Paul and Barnabas had laid aside their differences and followed the Lord together.
“Two cowboys fighting over which trail to take will lose the whole herd while they’re arguing.”
Questions for Reflection
Is there a disagreement with a fellow believer that you’ve allowed to become an obstacle to God’s work? What would it take to lay it down?
How do you handle conflict within the church? Do you tend to dig in your heels, or are you willing to compromise for the sake of the mission?
What could the church accomplish if we truly practiced the love and forgiveness we preach? What does that look like in your life this week?
Prayer Focus
Father, forgive me for the times my stubbornness has hurt Your work. Teach me to disagree with grace, to fight for unity instead of fighting for my own way. Help me remember that the world is watching — and that my relationships with other believers are a testimony of Your love. Give me the humility to lay down my pride for the sake of the mission You’ve given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
