Love Over Fear and Selfishness
Scripture Passage: Acts 21:1-16 (NASB)
21 Now when we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, and on 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 the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there for 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 boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and 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 he came to us and 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 in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to 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 replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, 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 stay.
SUMMARY
Paul and his company continue their journey from Ephesus to Tyre. He meets with fellow believers who warn him in the Spirit against going to Jerusalem. A prophet named Agabus also confirms through the Holy Spirit that Paul will be imprisoned and suffer if he goes into Jerusalem. His brethren strongly urge him not to go, but Paul replies he is ready to be imprisoned and persecuted if it is for the name of Lord Jesus! Paul could not be persuaded otherwise, and the group prepared to go to Jerusalem.
MEDITATION AND REFLECTION
Ultimately, I think it was selfless love that overcame self-preservation and fear that enabled Paul to embark upon the trip to Jerusalem. Paul’s love for the Jews, though they killed Jesus and persecuted Christians, and his desire to see them truly know Jesus as the Lord, convicted him to go to Jerusalem. Paul received a clear forewarning about the sufferings he would face before going into Jerusalem. It was just as Jesus knew he would suffer a painful death to accomplish the mission from His Father, to bring God’s children to salvation. Jesus and Paul, in this instance, showed us the self-sacrificing love of God, for the sake of others and their spiritual salvation. It’s a love that the world, or we in our sinful nature cannot give or show to others, because it is an inconvenience and a pain. But Christians pursue it because we are so stirred by the love of Jesus, and we love our brethren enough to even go through suffering if it is necessary.
APPLICATION
When I am in my sinful nature, I put my own comfort and safety first, not the will of God. Because of sin, I am defaulted to turn away from anything that would inconvenience me and even more so, anything that would make me suffer. There is no love or life in that way of living. It is actually the road of death.
But the way of Jesus, leads to life and it proclaims his love. In all my actions, I will not just take the easy and beneficial way to me. I will pray to God in my heart during the day, to show me ways to love others. I will ask God that may his love and his gospel be evident in my small acts of obedience, that may go against my flesh at times.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I long to know your heart that wants to bring all your children to faith in Jesus. I see the darkness of selfishness and ungodly fear. So I want to know this beauty and joy of loving others, more than myself, that even great suffering would not hinder me to pursue the love of God. Day-by-day, would you change me little by little. Would you mold me and make me more like you, even though I would have to die to my flesh and it would be painful and uncomfortable. Please help me in all these things, so that the name of Jesus can be magnified.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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