When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. On 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. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And 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.’” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then 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.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
Paul in this lesson is being confronted between the choice of the temporal and the eternal. Paul witness the Risen Christ and the glory and the majesty of his Savior. Apart from that, all things of the world are rubbish. Paul was also engaged in a mission set before him which is to preach the gospel to the gentiles and their kings. Paul was not then persuaded by considering his own life to be valuable when compared to the things that are to come by serving Christ, and if necessary, laying his life down for Christ's sake.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith so that I can easily choose between Your Kingdom and the kingdom of the world. Strengthen me to be a co-labor for the gospel so that I may be found trustworthy when You return.
In Your holy name I pray Amen.
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