Today's readings are Psalm 82, 1 Samuel 2.18-36, and Acts 15.22-41.
Following on the heels of an exhortation to help those entrapped in sin, today we see examples, both good and bad, of that help. Notice that in the successful instance, when Paul, Barnabas, and others have delivered the wise counsel from the Church as a whole, they themselves have a dispute, are entrapped in sin, and depart angrily. We'd all like to deny that we would become embroiled in a conflict like that. Yet we all realize we have it in us. We know and desire what is right, but we are drawn to what is wrong. We see dissensions and strife arise as we seek our own way. We are told by our culture to take care of ourselves, to look out for Number One, to strive to be a self-made man. Yet what God would give us is to take care of others, to look out for those who are helpless, and to be a God-made man. We all fail, just like Paul and Barnabas failed to resolve their conflict.
May the Lord give us repentance and remind us that his forgiveness is great enough for all our sin. May he protect his servants, as we are so quick to wrap ourselves in turmoil.
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