Acts 21: 1-16
Jan and I have a trip coming up and it is important to share
our itinerary with family and a few friends, and we are looking forward to
going places we have never been and seeing things and people we have never
seen. In Acts 21:1-16 we have the
itinerary of the apostle Paul, and he is returning to places he has been and
people he has ministered to. His agenda
is to return to Jerusalem, and his reasoning is what he shared with the elders
of Ephesus in Acts 20:22-23, “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by
the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy
Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await
me.”
Doctor Luke gives a detailed report of Paul’s travel and the
ports that he went to. First, was Cos,
next day was Rhodes, and from there to Patara, where Paul found a ship going to
Phoenicia and he sailed. On seeing
Cyprus, they went to Syria and Tyre, for the ship was unloading its cargo. So Paul sought out the disciples and stayed
with them for seven days. Now this is
somewhat confusing that the Spirit spoke through them telling Paul not to go to
Jerusalem, until you stop and ask the Holy Spirit why? It seems that Paul chose to go to Jerusalem, the
Spirit of God was not compelling him to go, but God used the religious Jews in
Jerusalem to place Paul in front of many leaders and to have him chained to
Roman soldiers where many of them would become disciples of Jesus Christ. It was also in Rome where much of the New
Testament was written by the apostle Paul while sitting in a jail cell.
Often, we forget that our Creator gave us a will and if you
use your imagination to place yourself in Paul’s shoes, he’s been beaten and
imprisoned more than once, he’s been run out of town, and he has been left for
dead after a stoning that only God could have saved him from. And it is only after Paul is imprisoned in
Rome that he shares something that makes it clear why he had to go to
Jerusalem. “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not
lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great
sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were
accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according
to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory,
the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.” (Romans 9:1-4 ESV)
As Paul talked with the elders of Ephesus, men whom he
loved, men who I’m sure were saying, Paul please do not return to
Jerusalem. We have this account from
doctor Luke, “But I do not account my life of any value nor
as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And
now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming
the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I
am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the
whole counsel of God.” (Acts
20:24-27 ESV)
What a contrast to most Christians living in 2012, and to my
shame, that also includes this writer.
Most of us put great value on our person, and often Christians as they
get older have no kingdom goals, but most have many selfish goals with no
thought of finishing this great race of Christ living His life in us, and us
asking for His purpose and training for that day, so that we receive a “well
done you good and faithful servant.” It is time for many of us to go back to the
basics as we get back into our training.
Form the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment