The Easy Way Out
Acts Chapter 21
Scripture= Acts chapter 21:10-14, 30-31
10) After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" 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."
30) The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Observations and Applications=
Have you ever been tempted to take the easy way out? Just lie down and not try so hard? It could be working out at the gym or working at our job; the temptation to just not try so hard is always in front of us.
Paul amazes me, he knows that he is heading into trouble and taking it easy is not even an option. Quitting is not in his vocabulary. He is determined to go to Jerusalem no matter what consequences await him there. Being safe was not the criteria that Paul used to decide what to do with his life. Danger and persecution had become a way of life. Going to Jerusalem for Paul, was in some way like Jesus saying to his Father, “not my will but yours be done.”
While it seemed that no good could come from Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem that decision is what ultimately caused his trip to Rome to take place. If Paul had avoided Jerusalem how would he have made it to Rome?
Sometimes it is hard to trust God when he is leading us to take the hard road. We may face confrontation and even persecution but if we are being led by the Spirit of God to face our issues and our fears we will always be better off to face them than we would if we took the easy way out. Who knows what visits to Rome are in store for you?
I remember a hymn that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. It was called ‘Trust and Obey.’ The chorus went something like this (if I can remember), “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.” One verse was (I think) “When we walk with the Lord. In the light of His Word what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do his good will, he abides with us still, never doubting simply trust and obey.” I remember another phrase of the song I think, went like this, “what He says we will do, where He sends we will go, never doubting simply trust and obey.” Now I probably even mixed the verses together but you get the point.
Are there areas in you life where it feels like God is leading you to Jerusalem? Like Paul, you too might be moving toward your destiny! Are you willing to trust and obey?
Prayer= Lord, when I am afraid I will trust in you.
Scripture= Acts chapter 21:10-14, 30-31
10) After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" 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."
30) The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Observations and Applications=
Have you ever been tempted to take the easy way out? Just lie down and not try so hard? It could be working out at the gym or working at our job; the temptation to just not try so hard is always in front of us.
Paul amazes me, he knows that he is heading into trouble and taking it easy is not even an option. Quitting is not in his vocabulary. He is determined to go to Jerusalem no matter what consequences await him there. Being safe was not the criteria that Paul used to decide what to do with his life. Danger and persecution had become a way of life. Going to Jerusalem for Paul, was in some way like Jesus saying to his Father, “not my will but yours be done.”
While it seemed that no good could come from Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem that decision is what ultimately caused his trip to Rome to take place. If Paul had avoided Jerusalem how would he have made it to Rome?
Sometimes it is hard to trust God when he is leading us to take the hard road. We may face confrontation and even persecution but if we are being led by the Spirit of God to face our issues and our fears we will always be better off to face them than we would if we took the easy way out. Who knows what visits to Rome are in store for you?
I remember a hymn that we used to sing in church when I was a boy. It was called ‘Trust and Obey.’ The chorus went something like this (if I can remember), “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.” One verse was (I think) “When we walk with the Lord. In the light of His Word what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do his good will, he abides with us still, never doubting simply trust and obey.” I remember another phrase of the song I think, went like this, “what He says we will do, where He sends we will go, never doubting simply trust and obey.” Now I probably even mixed the verses together but you get the point.
Are there areas in you life where it feels like God is leading you to Jerusalem? Like Paul, you too might be moving toward your destiny! Are you willing to trust and obey?
Prayer= Lord, when I am afraid I will trust in you.
