Intro to Acts 21:1-16

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/23/2018 10:05 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                       Focus:  Intro to Acts 21

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 21:1-16

            Message of the verses:  “1 When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day.  8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: ’In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’" 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging 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 at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!" 15 After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.”

            John MacArthur entitles this chapter covering these verses in his commentary “The Courage of Conviction,” and as I think about that title I have to say that it is very fitting to what is found in these sixteen verses.

            He begins his introductory comments by saying “Courageous commitment, stemming from strong convictions, is an essential quality found in all those whom God chooses to lead.”  This was certainly true of Paul as will be seen in these sixteen verses.  There are examples of the courageous commitment found in the OT.  Joshua and Caleb felt that the Lord had given the Promised Land to Israel as they were a part of the twelve spies who went into the land, and they conveyed this message to the elders of Israel to no avail, and yet because of their courageous commitment they were the only ones over twenty years old to enter the Promised Land as all the rest twenty and older died in the wilderness.  One more example comes from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as they were willing to give up their lives by being burned in a furnace, but because of their courageous commitment God spared their lives as they would not bow down to the golden idol.  There are others we could mention, but I think we get the point.  I suppose that the greatest One who had this courageous commitment was our Lord, and for that we who have been born again can be very thankful.

            John MacArthur ends his introductory commentary by writing:  “From the narrative in verses 1-16 emerge four aspects of the courage of conviction displayed by the apostle Paul:  such courage knows its purpose, cannot be diverted, pays any price, and motivates others.”

            One more thing I would like to mention and that is that there have been many millions of people who have demonstrated this courageous commitment by laying down their lives for the cause of Christ as evidenced by a Pastor’s family in the Central African Republic a couple of weeks ago as two of the Pastor’s children were killed for the cause of Christ, one only 13 years old. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look around the world today, including our country I certainly see signs of our Lord’s second coming as our world has changed much since the end of the Second World War.  As I think of that my prayer is that I too would have courageous commitment in whatever the Lord has for me to do for the cause of Christ.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord that He will give Dr. Pierre great wisdom once again as he operates on my right eye to install a new cataract.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jesus” (Mark 6:50).

Today’s Bible question:  “In what city did Paul find an altar to an unknown God?”

Answer in our next SD.

7/23/2018 10:33 AM