“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord” (Acts 15:39-40).

Luke used a strong Greek word for the argument between Paul and Barnabas. In some way it is encouraging for us because it shows that a moment’s breakdown doesn’t have to ruin our futures. This awesome missionary team—Paul and Barnabas—broke up that day.

Paul knew how badly he had failed. He wrote the famous chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13, and used the same word that Luke had used for “sharp disagreement” when he wrote, “Love…is not easily angered” (13:5). He was saying, “Love doesn’t do what I did.”

Yet out of that human failure, God caused an excellent result. Paul brought Silas with him on his next journey. Barnabas took Mark and rehabilitated him to the extent that Paul was reconciled to Mark and Mark eventually wrote the first Gospel.

All of this is just a reinforcement of a great truth. God uses imperfect people if they allow Him to work in their lives.