Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Against the better judgment of his closest friends, Paul ends up in Jerusalem. At the end of the 21st chapter, we see the prophetic word come to life as Paul is attacked and shackled. Through this chapter, the foretelling of Paul’s eventual imprisonment begins to unfold.

It is easier to face the unknown when you know Jesus has your back. Paul knew it was going to be dangerous to go to Jerusalem, but he felt he had to go anyway. He even testifies that “...I am ready not only to be bound but to die in the name of Jesus. (v. 13)”

I just love studying Acts and reading about the work that Paul was doing. What faith is displayed as he continues preaching, praying, worshiping, and writing even as he faces imprisonment! How much easier would it have been for Paul to simply step aside and go with the flow? I admire his dedication to Kingdom work. I find it even more incredible that just 12 chapters earlier, Paul (then known as Saul) was persecuting the disciples and the church. Now he’s willing to die in the name of Jesus.

Have you ever pressed on for some task against the better judgment and advice of others? What rationale did you use to determine to go or not to go? Joshua 1:9 assures us that as Christians, God’s hand is on us wherever we go. Acts 17:26 tells us further, however, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole Earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” God knew when we would live and even the places where we would live as well. Wow! How personal is this thought?

I took a little extra time studying this chapter as I questioned why even with the Holy Spirit (through his friends) urging Paul not to go, he chose to go anyway (v. 4). But aren’t we much the same as Paul in this? How many times do we feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit not to act in a certain situation and we explain it away and we choose to do so anyway? Maybe we do so even with the truest of intentions, however, this usually doesn’t happen without some consequence whether large or small.

Just how much does God love us? In Matthew 10:30-32, we read, “God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So, don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. 'All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me.'"

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Think back and reflect on a time that you made a decision perhaps against the nudging of the Holy Spirit or strong Christian friends rationalizing the choice differently. How did that work out for you? Were there consequences? What happened during that time? Looking back, how could you have done that differently?
• Prayer: Dear God, We know that you have a will for each of our lives. We also know that as humans we struggle to walk strictly within Your will. Help us to hear and listen to the nudging of the Holy Spirit as You seek to shape us to be more like You. Forgive us for the times we fail You and we continue on in our own direction. Thank You for always helping us find our way back when we repent and return to You. Amen

Family Devo: Acts 21

By: Tina Bryant

In today’s scripture reading, Paul has made his way back home, finally! This homecoming wasn’t quite the happy reunion you might expect. The other Jewish leaders saw him as a threat, what Paul was teaching about Jesus being the King they just could not believe. There is so much happening in Chapter 21, crowds gather, there are shouting and angry people everywhere, and the entire city is in an uproar. It’s so crazy and scary. Paul gets grabbed and the people want to kill him. Soon the Roman soldiers hear what is happening and they run out and have to grab Paul and carry him out.

• When is a time when things have felt scary, crazy, and out of control? How did you handle those feelings? When things seem scary or out of control, we can trust in Jesus to help us through. Just like Paul did.
• Pray: God, When things get crazy and out of control in my world, remind me that you are always in control, even when I am not. Help me to trust you to take care of me, and give me wisdom for how I should respond when I am faced with scary situations.