“It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them…..So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message……Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing’…..He (Paul) went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 15:19-20a, 30-31, 36, 41 NIV
As I was reading through this chapter, I was reminded that we are to continually feed, nurture, and encourage new believers. As believers in Christ, we often say that we want our words and actions to draw those that do not yet know Him into a relationship with him. But to further that saying, as Christ’s disciples, we should be continuing to draw the new believers into an even deeper relationship with Christ. Just as the early disciples were taxed with that task, so we are today.
When doing so, may our motives be as Christ’s disciples in this chapter; to not unnecessarily burden the individual, but to encourage them and strengthen them.
Lock Your Wings 
For all the good things Paul does after his conversion, he does still have shortcomings like grudge holding: “But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.”
Acts of the Apostles 15:38 NLT
His inability to forgive John Mark prompted a separation between him and Barnabas. While I think this ultimately strengthened the ministry as they each took another and preached farther than they would have together, it’s too bad they couldn’t be unified in their decision.
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