When we get in the way...
"Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, '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 21:12-13
Here's the situation: The Apostle Paul had his heart set on getting to Jerusalem and sharing the Gospel with his fellow Jewish brethren; he had continually had his heart set on going there. He gets the opportunity to set sail, make a few stops along the way, and then finally arrive at the city.
Paul and his shipmates arrive at a place called Caesarea and he runs into a fellow believer named Philip the evangelist (one of the original 7 chosen back in Acts 6) and he stays with him several days. Sometime during his stay, Paul is approached by a prophet from Judea named Agabus. Agabus shares with Paul a prophecy that wasn't something to get excited about: the Lord had shown him that Paul would be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles while in Jerusalem over some false accusations.
In the dialogue above, Paul's companions, naturally, don't want him to go, one of which was Luke. They "pleaded" with Paul and cried for him - they didn't want the prophecy to come true. They wanted Paul to avoid it; to run from it. There had to be another day or another way.
Ultimately, after Paul would not be talked out of it, Luke and the others gave up and put it in the Lord's hands - "The will of the Lord be done." This is always the best response....
What happens when we're confronted with trials, difficulties or uncertainties that the Lord has brought on or allowed in our lives? What about in the lives of others we love and care about? Our natural reaction is like Luke and the others here, or with Peter and the disciples with Jesus, "Never Lord! Your death and suffering will not happen to you!" (to which Jesus replied, "Get behind Me, Satan!" - Matt. 16:22-23). Ouch.
We want what we think is best for ourselves and others, but God's plans are always better - even if they cause uncertainty and pain. God has a reason/purpose for everything we go through, especially the trials and sufferings. Let's all take heart in this, let God work, and let's try our best to not get in the way.
-Acts 21:12-13
Here's the situation: The Apostle Paul had his heart set on getting to Jerusalem and sharing the Gospel with his fellow Jewish brethren; he had continually had his heart set on going there. He gets the opportunity to set sail, make a few stops along the way, and then finally arrive at the city.
Paul and his shipmates arrive at a place called Caesarea and he runs into a fellow believer named Philip the evangelist (one of the original 7 chosen back in Acts 6) and he stays with him several days. Sometime during his stay, Paul is approached by a prophet from Judea named Agabus. Agabus shares with Paul a prophecy that wasn't something to get excited about: the Lord had shown him that Paul would be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles while in Jerusalem over some false accusations.
In the dialogue above, Paul's companions, naturally, don't want him to go, one of which was Luke. They "pleaded" with Paul and cried for him - they didn't want the prophecy to come true. They wanted Paul to avoid it; to run from it. There had to be another day or another way.
Ultimately, after Paul would not be talked out of it, Luke and the others gave up and put it in the Lord's hands - "The will of the Lord be done." This is always the best response....
What happens when we're confronted with trials, difficulties or uncertainties that the Lord has brought on or allowed in our lives? What about in the lives of others we love and care about? Our natural reaction is like Luke and the others here, or with Peter and the disciples with Jesus, "Never Lord! Your death and suffering will not happen to you!" (to which Jesus replied, "Get behind Me, Satan!" - Matt. 16:22-23). Ouch.
We want what we think is best for ourselves and others, but God's plans are always better - even if they cause uncertainty and pain. God has a reason/purpose for everything we go through, especially the trials and sufferings. Let's all take heart in this, let God work, and let's try our best to not get in the way.
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