On to Jerusalem

This year I’ve been reading Acts in a Bible study.  An interesting point was brought to my attention in chapter 21.  Paul was on a missionary journey and had stopped in Caesarea.  A prophet named Agabus confirmed that trouble and suffering were awaiting Paul at Jerusalem, which is where he was headed.

The people Paul was meeting with were greatly distressed.  Luke writes, “When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?  I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”  Acts 21:12-14

During our discussion of this passage, the point was brought up that Paul was so moved by his friends’ sadness and begging him not to go that it was causing his resolve to obey the Lord to weaken.  This brings us to an important self-examination.  Is someone doing this to you and tempting you to disobey God’s missionary call or appointed task?  Or, on the flip-side, are you the distracting voice to someone else?

Yes, change is hard.  Yes, relationships are valuable and we deeply love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  But let us beware that we do not let others keep us from where God wants us to go.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be responsible for doing that to someone else, either.

As tough as it may be, when God calls our loved ones to something that may take them away from us because they feel led to move to another place or begin a difficult missionary calling, let us deny ourselves and encourage them to obey God’s calling.  Also, when we feel called, let us follow Paul’s example of obedience even when it’s extremely difficult.  There may be suffering on this end, but we must remember God will bring blessing through the suffering.  He alone can give us the strength to do what we are called to do.

Melissa