Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

February 20, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: ACTS 21

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Everyone kept trying to warn Paul not to go to Jerusalem to minister. They knew that he would face trouble and persecution there. While they were seeing all the opposition, Paul was seeing the opportunity. While they were seeing the danger, Paul was seeing his duty. They saw the prison chains, Paul saw the powerful Christ. Of all that Paul responded to, I love the few words that he began with. “I am ready”. How powerful is that statement? Paul explained that he was ready for the chains, and he was ready for the challenge, and if need be, he was ready to be martyred.

Are you ready, today? Are you ready for the challenge that today might bring? Are you ready to do anything for the Lord? Are you determined to finish your course no matter what may come? Are you ready to suffer persecution if need be? Am I?

When we even discuss commitment like this, it makes us feel so uncommitted when we think of what little it takes to discourage, defeat, and distract us. We’re ready to quit church because somebody said something that upset us. And here, Paul was ready to give his very life just to witness to people that did not want him there anyway. He had so much persuasion toward Christ, that he could not be persuaded away from Christ. “The will of the Lord be done”! Isn’t that the point anyway?