Passage of the Day - January 23, 2011

Acts 21:1-14

 ¹When 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;

 ²and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

 ³When 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.

 ⁴After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.

 ⁵When 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.

 ⁶Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

 ⁷When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day.

 ⁸On 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.

 ⁹Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.

 ¹⁰As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

 ¹¹And 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.'"

 ¹²When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.

 ¹³Then 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."

 ¹⁴And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!"

God must be glorified no matter what.  Our mission must be fulfilled no matter what.  We must remain faithful no matter what.  I struggle with this at times.  I may have mentioned this before, but I often wonder what is the difference between a closed door and a test of faith.  The Holy Spirit told Paul through Agabus that he would be bound and delivered to the Gentiles.  Paul didn't take this as a sign that he shouldn't go.  He took this as a fact of his ministry.  For me, his faith is impressive, but equally is his determination.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)