Acts 13:4-12 | Head-to-Head预览

Head-to-Head with Each Other

We started this week’s reading plan using Acts 13 as a guide to help us navigate those times when we come head-to-head with those who oppose us, particularly over our faith in Christ. Acts 13 teases at one final instance that won’t come to a head until Acts 15. Here we just meet him. His name is John, also called Mark.

This is the same Mark we meet in Acts 12 – Peter goes to his mom’s house after his miraculous prison break. Acts 13 tells us he goes with Paul and Barnabas on this missionary journey as their helper, and later in Acts 15 we’ll find that the band breaks up over him.

Sometimes things come head-to-head with the dark powers. Other times it comes from outsiders, and other times from our own people. But what do we do when it comes over those who are closest to us, from those who work alongside us and share in our life?

It’s not uncommon. Children oppose their parents. Spouses become adversaries instead of allies. Co-workers pull in opposite directions with different agendas. People in our communities and fellow citizens of a country sharply oppose each other over myriad things.

Acts 13 doesn’t tease out what to do in these situations, but the rest of the New Testament does. It’s rooted in this: forgiveness.

It is inevitable that we will hurt each other, let each other down, disappoint each other, frustrate each other, and infuriate one another. It’s the cost of getting close to people. It’s the tax on any meaningful relationship. Some isolate themselves or keep people at an arm’s length in order to avoid it. Others lash out and treat anyone “on the outs” as enemies. God has another way. He wants us to plunge in, do the hard work, and learn to love more deeply. He wants us to grow a spirit of compassion with a heart to forgive.

This doesn’t mean we’ll always go the same direction. Sometimes new chapters are in store. Occasionally it means parting with sweet sorrow. Often it means checking our own pride and sense of self-righteousness. It’s inevitable that there will be those you go head-to-head with. Make sure that when you do, you do it Jesus’s way.

If this plan helped orient you to the ongoing work and teaching of Jesus in this world, we encourage you to subscribe to our other plans on Acts.