Today is November 15  

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.    
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of Acts, chapter 15, read from the MSG version.  
  
Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of God. But they weren’t alone. There were a number of teachers and preachers at that time in Antioch. After a few days of this, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all our friends in each of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let’s see how they’re doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John along (the John nicknamed Mark). But Paul wouldn’t have him; he wasn’t about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia. Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways.  
  
This text brings to mind two seemingly unrelated things: first, the importance of scripture and good teaching… and second, how easy it is to experience relational breaks. Paul and Barnabas went separate ways, and John Mark, called a ‘quitter’, had walked away from followership.    
   
Can you relate at all to these church leaders, committed followers of Jesus, teachers of God’s word… missionaries, even! And yet still finding themselves in a situation in which ‘tempers flared’? Which ended in them going separate ways? If you can relate to that scene of a relational break with a sister or brother in Christ, bring that before the Lord right now…  
   
The work of Christ is found in reconciliation: us to God, us to ourselves, and us to those around us. Sometimes it’s easier to have a great quiet time, to study God’s word… than it is to do the things we read inside of it. Is there a relationship in your life that is broken? Talk to God about what His word says to you about the continual work of ‘coming back’ from separate ways of conflict. Ask God for wisdom about any relationship you are in that needs repair.  
  
Music:  "Make Us Like Jesus" - Vineyard Worship 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKCzy6Q0TE