Pray:
Savior, I lay my life before You. Help me to stay upon the altar and trust You even when the fires burn the sacrifice.
Read:
Acts 21:1-16
Reflect:
What do you think is motivating Paul?
Paul's impending hardships are foretold over and over, in Tyre (4), and in Caesarea where the Spirit enables the prophet Agabus to go so far as to show Paul how he will be bound (11).
Everyone pleads with Paul to stay away from Jerusalem (4,12), but he will not change his mind. Paul, like Jesus, knew that he was called to Jerusalem and was ready for what was to come (13). He knew his ministry would not be able to continue without it.
If we were the friends surrounding Paul, what would we say? Would we beg him to stay, or encourage him in his dangerous mission? Would we be more concerned with the health and safety risks, or God's calling?
When we become Christians, God doesn't promise us a life free from hardship. What we are promised is that God will never leave us in that hardship, but will be right there beside us, comforting us in the moment (Psa. 23:4), and longing to bring us to a better place (Psa. 40:2).
Apply:
Consider what cost you would be willing to pay for the Gospel. Would you follow God into danger and suffering?
Pray:
Lord, You have gone before me. You do not call me to anything that You have not passed through. I will follow.
