I DID YOUR WAY

Acts 15: 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And 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. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Barnabas left Paul, because Paul did not want to take Mark with them. Mark had left Barnabas and Paul in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to do God's work. Now Barnabas is insisting that Mark travel with them. It seems perfectly harmless, what is wrong with having someone travel with them. After all WWJD?

But let's look at the words that describe Barnabas' actions. He determined to take Mark with them. Paul thought it not good, and Barnabas leaves with Mark going to Cyrus. It sounds like Barnabas said it will be my way or no way.

What we see at work here is not God influence but personal feelings influence. I want you to notice that Barnabas is never mentioned in the Bible again. Now it does not say that Barnabas was never used by God again, nor does it say his name was removed from the Book of Life. He is simply gone.

The bigger story here is God's plan, His government and God does not allow anyone to take his own way. We can not void God's system of government just because we are under His grace.

It is grace that makes us yield ourselves to God. Grace does not make us vigilantes that we can just go forth and do what we want any way we want. Grace will make us behave as a proper servant, it will increase our desire to be in subjection to authority, not try to run the show. The more grace we have the more we desire to fall in line with the Lord's Word and not do anything that will destroy, or blemish it in any way.

Now look again at the song 'I Did It My Way' and be honest do you see yourself in any way?

We are not consecrated to Christ to go out and do it our own way, we are making a decision to do it Christ's way. We do not want to stand before the Lord and say yes Lord You called me, I went out and did what I thought You wanted me to do. We want to stand before the Lord and say "I did it Your way!"


God Bless Indeed

recj/LJG