what God uses for good

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Acts 15:36-16:15. We read about a serious disagreement that turns into something good.

Paul isn't happy with John Mark, apparently because he deserted Paul in Pamphylia and "had not continued with them in their work." It might be noted that if Paul hadn't had a problem with him, he WOULD have then "continued with him in his work." But that's OK, because God uses the situation for good.

He takes Barnabas and John Mark one way, and Paul and Silas go another direction. Both teams do great work as they travel around the Mediterranean.

There are times when we humans get needlessly angry with each other. When our pride surfaces, or we feel slighted. When someone says something that casts us in a poor light. Or when we're jealous of someone's accolades. It's better, of course, to remain humble and to love one another. But God knows we're human. And He works even the petty little differences that we find between us for our good.

So next time you see one of these differences happening, ask Him to work it for good. Then watch what He does.

God, thanks for working EVERYTHING, even our silly humanness, for our good.