THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2024
TEXT:
Acts 21:1-16
1.
When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos,
and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2.
When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.
3.
We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and
landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.
4.
We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit
they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5.
When our days there ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of
them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt
down on beach and prayed
6.
and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they
returned home.
7.
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we
greeted the believers and stayed with for one day.
8.
The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip
the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9.
He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.
10.
While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down
from Judea.
11.
He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and
said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will
bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12.
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to
Jerusalem.
13.
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I
am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the
Lord Jesus.”
14.
Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, “The Lord’s
will be done.”
15.
After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem.
16.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house
of Mnason of Cyprus, and early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
(New Revised Standard Version Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
PLEASING GOD IN UNPLEASANT SITUATIONS
It is very dangerous
for Paul to continue his journey to Jerusalem due to what awaited him there.
It is in the nature of
man to want to save himself from any form of danger. But here was Paul going
head-long into the danger of being arrested and possibly killed by the Jews.
However, the story
always takes a different turn whenever God is involved.
Paul was pleased to
carry out God’s will, even though the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he
was going to be arrested and imprisoned.
As we run this race, it
is important to decipher God’s will for us and do it, even if the circumstances
are unpleasant.
QUESTION:
Are you having unpleasant feelings about what the Holy Spirit is directing you
to do?
PRAYER:
O God, give the grace to hear You and do thy biding at all times, in Jesus
name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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