Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  Acts 21

Have you ever wondered what if you could see into the future? If you were planning to go somewhere to do something, and you got a warning in some form that you would end up in danger or trouble should you go there, would you still go? More often than not, I think most of us would think twice before going, or perhaps eventually not going.

In this chapter, we see Paul having received, not one, but two warnings about going to Jerusalem. While the first one in verse 4 was just simply saying that the disciples told him not to go for Jerusalem, the second warning was in more detail, given by the prophet Agabus…

When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” - Acts 21: 11

As a result of these warnings, the disciples, who cared for Paul, were worried for him and pleaded with him not to go lest he risked his own life. As we have read in thechosen’s blog entry (Bible blogger’s log…. Dated December 9^th, 2009…), he/she/it/they had said that they thought that it was against the will of God for Paul to go to Jerusalem, since He gave these warnings to them. But Paul saw things differently..

In my manner of thinking, I’d like to sum up Paul’s view on this in just a single word which I would have thought of had I possess his faith, his courage and his zeal in doing the work of God..

“Eh.. So?” (Ok, ok… That was TWO words..)

Or perhaps more appropriately, what he said was this..

“What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” - Acts 21: 13

In typical “Paulesque” style response, Paul made clear his conviction to do the work of preaching the gospel, to the extent that he was willing to be bound and to die for the Lord! He saw the warnings differently from the disciples. I’d think that he clearly understood what God wanted him to do. As thechosen had said in his/her/its/their entry, how do we interpret the will of God?

True enough, when Paul went to Jerusalem, after he had spoken in the temple, he was accused and  captured by the angry Jews there, dragged out and beaten! We most likely won’t get beaten like that here in Singapore, but Paul did kena and yet he was not afraid to preach there. Soon after, a group of soldiers came to Paul’s rescue, so to speak, and bound him with two chains (Editor’s note: Revelation fulfilled). But even despite that, he still managed to make a request to speak to the people again.

Once again, we have seen the courage and zeal that Paul had in preaching the gospel, in doing the work of God. He was neither afraid of the dangers that loomed nor did his fervour waiver in the midst of sufferings. Likewise, we too might undergo sufferings, though not exactly of the same nature. We also don’t really need any sort of revelation to know this. But would we be like the disciples, perhaps thinking that it is not such a good idea to go ahead and do the work in light of knowing these dangers? Or would we be like Paul, who, knowing what would happen to him should he continue, would be motivated to do the work? Furthermore, I believe that Paul knew that God would be glorified if he pressed on, and that’s a reason why he did not retreat.

To end it off, we shall look at a few sayings by another apostle..

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. - 1 Peter 4: 14

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. - 1 Peter 4: 16

Let us remember that if we are being persecuted for doing the work of God, for keeping His commandments, for obeying His will, we would be glorifying God.