February 4, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, February 4.
On February 4, 1789, the United States of America elected its very first president - George Washington, of course. You knew that. But do you remember who was the very first vice president? It was John Adams. Interesting bit of trivia - at the beginning of our republic, the man who ran for president - and lost - became the vice president. Adams wasn’t Washington’s running mate, he was his opponent. Imagine if that law was still in effect today. Donald Trump’s vice president would be Kamala Harris! Oh boy! Just 15 years later, in 1804, the 12th Amendment set up the system we have now - when you vote for a president, you vote for his (or her) vice president at the same time. They’re a package. They’re a pair.
History has seen many famous pairs. Just to name a few - Lewis & Clark, Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson, Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin, Romeo & Juliet, Laurel & Hardy, Marc Antony & Cleopatra, Simon & Garfunkel, Lennon & McCartney, Batman & Robin. I’m not completely sure that all those are real people - but you get the drift. The Bible is full of real people that we usually think of in pairs - Adam & Eve, Elijah & Elisha, Ruth & Naomi, Priscilla & Aquila, Jacob & Esau, James & John. Not all Bible partners turned out well. Samson & Delilah was definitely not a match made in heaven. Ananias & Sapphira ended up as a cautionary tale. And Cain & Abel, well - you get the drift.
There is one famous New Testament duo that at least started out on a positive note - Paul & Barnabas. When Paul came on the scene, he was viewed by the early church leaders as a traitor, a pariah, and a very dangerous man. Left on his own, we probably would have never heard of Paul (and the New Testament would be about half as long). But Barnabas stood up for Paul. Barnabas vouched for Paul. He opened the door of history for the man who would have more effect on Christianity than anyone else - with the exception of Jesus Christ.
But the relationship that started out so well was eventually broken by disagreements over ministry decisions. Paul & Barnabas separated - Paul pairing with Silas, Barnabas with John Mark. And so, even in this negative note, we see God “working all things for good”, as one missionary team multiplied into two. Scripture never specifically tells us that Paul and Barnabas reconciled, but it hints at it. And we would like to think that they did.
Broken relationships happen, even to committed Christians. But ministry continues, churches continue, and God continues to work through us, we fallen human beings.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
