Acts 21:8-14
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming 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 Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then 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.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Paul and his companions are travelling back from Greece to Jerusalem. On the journey they keep stopping off to spend a bit of time with local churches and Christians. They are nearly there, and they stop to spend a few days with Philip, his family and the disciples. Whilst there Agabus warns Paul of what awaits him in Jerusalem. It will not be the welcoming homecoming that he had hoped for. The elders want to safeguard Paul from any danger. To Paul however, following and living out the will of God is the most important issue.
Thankfully very few of us are called to such a costly version of following, but we are all called to some level of commitment to, of giving to, of the following of the will of God, that is why we call it serving.
Lord God,
What are you calling me to today?
What are you expecting from me?
Where can I give a little bit more?
How can I serve you and the world?
Help me this and every day to help your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
Amen.