INTRODUCTION

The church at Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-4 [1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
See All...). These men were missionaries seeking to win the lost and edify the children of God. They travelled far and wide on their first missionary journey and then returned to Antioch to offer the believers a report of the work (Acts 15:30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
See All...). Soon thereafter, Paul determined that he and Barnabas should make a second trip to check on the growth of those to whom they previously ministered (Acts 15:36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
See All...). Barnabas sincerely desired to accompany Paul but also thought it wise to take John Mark (who had previously quit on Paul and Barnabas). Paul disagreed with taking John Mark and the Bible describes that the “contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other” (Acts 15:39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): King Saul and his son Jonathan loved David (1 Samuel 16:21-22 [21] And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. [22] And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
  See All...; 1 Samuel 18:1-2 [1] And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. [2] And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
  See All...); however, Saul’s love quickly turned to hatred (1 Samuel 18:8-9 [8] And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? [9] And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
  See All...). David had to flee for his life. He only saw Saul twice more after that (not under good conditions) and only saw Jonathan one more time.
• (For everyone): Have you ever spent time serving the Lord with someone only to have the fellowship broken as a result of some kind of strife? What kind of an effect did it have on you and the work of the Lord?
• Who was wrong in the conflict between Paul and Barnabas? What was the outcome of their conflict? In the end, does it really matter who was right and who was wrong?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to protect you from such splits.
• Ask the Lord to give you grace with other believers.

HYMN

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

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