What happened between Barnabas and Paul was real. The language used insinuates a passionate, heated debate. Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean your life is absent of struggles, trials and relational tensions. As Pastor Shawn has said before, it is in those times of relational stress, of tension and contention, that we have a chance to display the “enduring” fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Though we can sometimes hold Paul and the other disciples up on a seat of perfection, they still battle with their flesh (see Romans 7: ). Paul and Barnabas still had to make the choice to stay Jesus-centered and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Bitterness, anger, hatred, slander- those things could not be the end result of the conflict.
So did Paul do the right thing by Mark? Did he stay bitter or resolve the issue? (Read Colossians 4:10, Philemon 24, and 2 Timothy 4:11 for some clues)
Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you do everything right. But being filled with the Holy Spirit does lead you to make things right when you’ve done wrong. In fact, I’d say that having the humility to make things right is one of the strongest influences of the Holy Spirit we can experience! He is both the Spirit of Comfort and the Spirit of truth- He consoles and convicts.
Remember that last disagreement you had? The heated argument or stance you took? Is there anything you must do to make it right? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you His side of the situation. Don’t let today go by without making things right in the power of the Spirit of God.