In this
first 14 verses I see a couple things. First of all, once again I see a
characteristic of who Paul was shine forth, and that characteristic is one of a
need for relationship. When Paul arrived at Tyre he immediately search out and
found some of the disciples there. I am sure he was in need of a place to sleep
for the week, but I think he also had a great need for relationships with those
men and women. He sought them out to study and pray with them, to encourage and
be encouraged by them. Am I that relationally driven? Do I seek out those
relationships and that time with other believers like Paul did? I need to…
Secondly in
this first section, we see this prophesy about what was going to happen to Paul
by this guy named Agabus, and it is detailed and very specific. These are the
times our faith is really put to the test. It’s one thing to sign up to follow
God when there is a chance that
something bad could happen. Then, it’s much easier to “stand on faith” and risk
whatever it is that we are risking to follow where God calls us to follow. It’s
a whole different ball game to step up and to go when God tells us there is
trouble waiting for you, there is hardship ahead, and I’m still asking you to
go. I would love to say I would have said the same thing as Paul, I would love
to say I would have dismissed the pleadings and urgings to stay where it was
comfortable and safe, but I really just don’t know.
“For I am
ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the
Lord Jesus.” Am I? Would I? Will I? I pray fervently that if and when the
opportunity comes to put my life where my mouth is when it comes to my faith
and trust in Jesus that I will walk down that path, not worried about what lies
ahead but only concerned with who is leading me there.
Father these words of Paul are incredibly
profound, and I have no doubt that Paul meant them with every fiber of his
being, but these words are incredibly difficult to say and to really believe.
God you have led me down some paths that had forks in the path with some tough
decisions to make, but nothing that compares to this. Prepare me for the little
decisions and the big decisions, that I will always be willing to take the path
you’ve laid out before me, regardless of the amount of comforts, pleasures,
pains, or trials that come with it.
Finally, out
of this passage I see how Paul’s friends and fellow believers treated him. They
pushed on him and pleaded with him to stay. They were concerned about his
physical well-being, as any friends would be, and they begged him not to go. Have
I ever done that? Have I ever tried to obstruct God’s will by pursuing my
agenda in someone else’s life instead of my own? I want to be a person that
others come to for Godly, Spirit-led advice. I want people to know that I will
pray about their situation and earnestly seek God for the direction that He is
leading them, and for that to happen I have got to faithfully ask God on their
behalf. Paul’s friends were not doing him any favors by begging him to stay.
They were thinking about themselves and the struggles that would be ahead for
them if, in fact, Paul was bound and was killed. Paul, showing incredible
maturity, scolded them a little and asked them to stop. He knew what the plan
was and he was willing to pursue it, but they weren’t ready to let him go. I
need to be the Paul in that situation and not his friends. No matter the cost
to myself or to a friend, no matter the trouble or struggle that will come as a
result of a decision, I need to always give those things to God and allow Him
to provide the answer. My perspective isn’t big enough, my view of the big
picture is pretty fuzzy, but God’s isn’t. I need to make sure I am not breaking
people’s hearts by trying to influence their decisions with my own selfish desires rather than God’s plan
for their lives!
The final
note I want to make about Acts chapter 21 is regarding Paul’s demeanor as he is
being falsely accused and beaten by the mob. He is calm, collected, and isn’t
rattled at all. He knows he’ll get the chance to speak and he waits for that
moment. First of all he is able to react this way because he is filled to the
brim with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit brings an incredible amount of
patience and forgiveness. When I see myself react in anger or frustration at
situations or people, those are clear indicators that I still need to give up
control of more of my heart to the Spirit! I also think Paul reacts this way
because he knew it was coming. It was prophesied a few verses ago, but even
beyond that he knew all along that this life of following Jesus was never
promised to be an easy one, and that hasn’t changed for me either. When I am
faced with struggles or persecution or whatever else frustrates me, I shouldn’t
be caught off guard! I shouldn’t be surprised because I was told early on this
would happen. I need to begin praying ahead of the storms, asking that God
would give me patience and a calm spirit and an attitude of forgiveness long
before I come upon those situations, so when they come I’ll be better prepared.
Paul took everything he got with a confidence that it was part of the plan and
that ultimate revenge would be God’s, and that was enough for him. I need that
to be enough for me as well. Paul was silent until it was his time to speak, and
when that time came he let them have it. I need to be prepared to speak, to be
silent and gracious until that time arrives, then let the Spirit move through
me like Paul did!
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