1After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming 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.' "
12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then 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." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."
15After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
Despite the warnings and worries from his people who cared him so much, he didn't get discouraged to go to Jerusalem.This shows how powerful his faith was in God and Jesus, even though he had known that what was going to happen in Jerusalem as Acts 20:23-24 says. He was totally ready to die for God's will. What made him so faithful enough to think that to live or to die is nothing? That's because he was already dead in Jesus Christ as he says in Galatians 2:20(I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.)
Time to think of if we are ready to lay down our lives for Jesus like he did for us.
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6 comments:
Thank you for the reflection of today's passage. Not only this particular passage but also the passages in the book of Act have been challenging us to exam our lives as Christians. It’s very easy to say, “Paul was special servant of God. I will never be as faithful and brave follower of Jesus as Paul was." Paul knew exactly what his calling was. Why Jesus saved the wretch person like Paul and used him for the awesome work of God. Paul responded the undying love of Jesus Christ by surrendering his life to the Christ. The very core of his being was Jesus and Him alone. Paul's greatest joy was to share the love of Christ and what Christ has done to deliver people including Paul from the eternal condemnation. Paul didn't care whether he lives or dies as long as the message was preached to many people's hearts so that they may come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I am shameful of how I have been living my life a casual Christian even though I know what Jesus has done for me. Jesus didn't come, suffer and nailed to the cross so that we can live our lives whatever pleases us. He wants us to respond to His amazing love and grace with passion and fervency so that we can't do nothing but sharing the love of Christ with the people who do not know this love. Our Heavenly Father will give everything we need as we carry on the mission.
thanks sungeun for such a wonderful reflection. what you wrote was so right--paul had already "died" in a sense, and therefore did not consider his life worth anything as long as he accomplished what Jesus set out for him to do. and thank you kwijung for such a moving comment. i too am grieved that my christian witness is such a poor reflection of the gospel. i just have to remember that i've already "died" and my life is no longer my own. if we are convinced of this and live according to it, then even we could live and die like paul.
Thank you ladies for your candid reflection and comments. Although I have read these passages many times before, today these passages speak so vividly about real emotions to me and the scenarios jump out to grab hold of me about these truths. It is sad that my life is such a poor example of a committed life in Christ. I do not often share the love of Christ and I am not sure sometimes that my life reflects the love and humility of Christ. If only the self could "die" to Christ we could be the awesome instrument that Paul was for God. I pray God would be gracious and merciful, and give me the courage to carry His mission forward.
Thank you for the words. It's so easy to give up on difficult situation. But as you said we have to be ready to die for Jesus like he did.
Sungeun, thanks for sharing your reflection. It made me re-evaluate my personal walk with God. Unlike Paul, when I look for direction from God, I hardly expect hardship and trials. In fact, I'm looking for Him to lead me away from struggles so that I would be on a smooth and prosperous path. If ever a prophet told me of the hardships I would face, I'd pray that I could find someway to avoid it.
Before I make any big, important decisions I pray and ask God for 'guidance' which equates to 'keep me out of trouble'.
I want to own and hold tightly the assurance of the Psalmist that wrote "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
I could ask that this passage would be my life's prayer but it would be out of coveting from God peace and comfort. I have forgotten that true peace and comfort is beyond the physical or tangible circumstances. It really comes from our walk with Christ. He is our peace and comfort but I so easily turn Him into the means of attaining it and of avoiding hardships.
I guess I need to focus less on avoiding hardships and focus on walking with Christ wherever He leads and whatever be the cost. And then I will be able to say with the Psalmist in Spirit and in Truth : "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
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