15

DEC

Christian Chemistry

posted on Tuesday, 2009

Cooking is both a science and an art.

I have a simple science question here… how come hot oil splatters when water gets into it, but floats peacefully when it is added to water?

Eons ago, some believers seemed to have experienced the same thing. Sometimes, they splattered like water on oil, and sometimes, they got along smoothly like oil on water.

What a great pal Barnabas was! He was the one who persuaded the others about the true conversion of Paul

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples,

but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.

He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,

and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem,

speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.     
Acts 9:26 to 28

Their friendship could be seen in how they went on a missionary trip together. But their first joint mission was to be their last partnership.

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas,

"Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord

and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia

and had not continued with them in the work. 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 brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Acts 15:36 to 40

I am glad to say that even when oil splattered with great ferocity, it would eventually sizzle down to a peaceful hum. I am glad that Paul and Barnabas did not turn against each other. They could have easily given in to temptations to drop off just one tiny hint of displeasure. There was the complete restoration of relationship, and this was evident in Paul’s commendation of John Mark.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry
II Timothy 4:11

Don’t just discard splattering oil… In fact, adding salt will help!

Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying,

"This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death

or make the land unproductive.' " 
And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
II Kings 2:20 to 22

Everyone will be salted with fire. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness,

how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
Mark 9:45 to 50

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,

so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6