Kingdom Decisions

Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” [Acts 21.10-14]

So, it was the Holy Spirit Who revealed that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem. On more than one occasion, people, reportedly led by the Spirit of God, prophesied Paul's imprisonment.

And yet, Paul went on anyway - not mindlessly however as he made it very clear that he acknowledged the impending incarceration and was furthermore prepared to die if matters deteriorated.

Why?

Why indeed!

It is such a resource, this Bible of ours! And, if we will just put off our religious minds and let the Bible tell its story, including all the personalities involved, we will see amazing and wonderful lessons for our own lives.

I truly believe Paul was living by his own choices. I believe, by God's amazing mercy that Paul was given the opportunity to avoid incarceration and continue to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ as he had been up to this point. But, for reasons only really known to Paul, he chose to brace himself for what his fate at Jerusalem would undoubtedly be taking the Gospel of Christ to an all-new audience through new circumstances.

The point is this: Paul obviously weighed out his options. So powerful had the Kingdom of God and its message become to Paul that his comfort, and even his life, had become inconsequential. God entrusted Paul to make some Kingdom decisions on his own that landed him, and the Message of Jesus, before kings!

I am not there.

Yet.

Father, please continue growing me in Your Kingdom. I want to be able, with complete abandon, to not only follow You, but even exercise Kingdom decisions myself that will, without self-regard, glorify You in holy purity of purpose.