Saturday, June 29, 2013

DAY 406 - Why A Huge Row? Why Not A Second Chance? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)



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Today's Reading: Acts 15:36-41

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Please click this link to read Acts 15:36-41

Bible Study

      Today's passage is perhaps the most shameful passage of all in the New Testament. Two top leaders, Paul and Barnabas, had a huge row and separated. And, Barnabas had been Paul's coach, mentor, spiritual father for years. How can that happen? You may think that I am exaggerating. Let's hear what bishop N.T. Wright's says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

     It case anyone supposes it wasn't after all as serious as all that, they need to have a look at the word at the beginning of verse 39, the word I have translated 'a huge row'.  The word in Greek is "paroxysms", from which of course we get 'paroxysm'. When the word is used in a medical context it can mean 'convulsion' or refer to someone running a high fever.  It carries overtones of severely heightened emotions, red and distorted faces, loud voices, things said that were better left unsaid. A sorry sight.

N.T. Wright. Acts for Everyone, Part 2. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2008, p.53.

    It all happened when they were in Pisidian Antioch(Acts 13:13) when John Mark left Paul and Barnabas unexpectedly. Luke has only one verse to describe this embarrassing situation and then one verse in this passage to hint a serious relational separation happened. 

    No one knows the reason why John Mark left. It might be he was too scared of what had been happening in Paul's 1st missionary journey. It might be he did not like Paul became the main leader and Barnabas became the second chair(John was a cousin of Barnabas according to Colossians 4:10). But, the situation is that both of them thought they were right. Bishop N.T. Wright says, "The worst rows, of course, happen when both people are in the right."(p.54)

     What have you got from this passage? Have you experienced this kind of huge row before? Were you on the right side or the wrong side when you think of that now? Or, both of you were right? How can you avoid this to happen the next time? Do you think there would be a next time?   
                                    
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"



Spiritual Journal

     What I heard from Jesus today is: Why a huge row? Why not a second chance?

    What I got today from Jesus is a question as well as a warning to all of us as Christians. When this kind of huge row happen, the whole church suffer! It is so shameful!

     God has given us so many second chance. Why not give a second chance instead of having a huge row to shame yourself, your brothers and sisters, your church and Jesus? Why? 

Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to give other people a second chance instead of creating a huge row to hurt you and other brothers and sisters. Help us to be a peace-maker to spread peace and love rather than anger and hatred. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.



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