Reading Plan:  

Acts 21

A Plum Line

Author: Pamela Brinson  

At first glance, Acts 21, reads like a boring itinerary of one of Paul’s journeys. But if we look just a bit more closely, we find some wonderful guidelines for our journey here on earth.  

The first thing I notice is Paul’s connection to the community of believers. He and his companions actively seek out other believers. The believers in many of the cities welcomed them into their homes and into their hearts. In Tyre, men, women, and children accompanied Paul to the ship to say their goodbyes with tears. They even knelt and prayed together. When was the last time I prayed as the Body of Christ? I mean other than the obligatory prayer to begin or end a service that’s always done by the pastor or staff member. Am I willing to kneel in public before a Holy God? And on the BEACH?  

Secondly, in verses 4 and 11, they are listening to the Holy Spirit! Wow! I want that. I want to know the Holy Spirit and be as comfortable with Him as I am with the Father and the Son.  

I recently listened to a teaching by Priscilla Shirer. She mentioned that she had read of one biblical scholar who had come to the conclusion that God’s people in the Old Testament had difficulty accepting God the Father. God’s people in the New Testament had difficulty accepting Jesus. And those of us in the modern church era have trouble accepting the Holy Spirit. That’s food for thought!  

The last insight I’ll mention from this passage is the obedience of Paul in the face of prison and beatings. In the previous chapter, Paul says he is constrained by the Holy Spirit to go. He goes willingly and without fear, knowing he may even face death. And God required him to go! I have been in church for a long, long time. The general perception and expectation have been that if we are walking in obedience on the path laid out for us by God, then all will be sunshine and roses. We think we will be blessed, and happy endings will abound! Paul’s walk doesn’t look much like that at all by secular standards. Maybe there’s an area of repentance needed here by me. Not the “Woe is me. I’m so bad. Please forgive me.” But repentance where I recognize the need to change how I think - to change my mind. This repentance is where I say, “I’m sorry. Show me the truth of The Way.”  

It turns out that this boring itinerary of Paul’s is really a plum line to hold up next to my life, not so God can zap me, but as a mark of a loving heavenly Father who only wants the best for me and you, and who has shown us how to live abundantly, even in the midst of turmoil or discomfort.  

Reflections:  

• What does it look like for you to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life?  
• Have you ever felt God leading you to do something that was difficult?  
• In John 10:10, Jesus says that He has come to give us an “abundant life?” What do you think Jesus means when he says “abundant"?

Family Content: I can trust God!

Author: Cindy Ogilvie

• Today, we are reading about Paul visiting some friends on the way to Jerusalem. He was told not to go to Jerusalem by his friends. But Paul makes it very clear that he is not afraid of anything including death. He was doing everything for the name of Jesus. Paul wanted the world to know Jesus.
• Paul still went to Jerusalem even though everyone told him not to. He did this because of his love for Jesus. Even though Paul was told not to go to Jerusalem throughout his entire journey there, he knew God was sending him there for a reason. God had a plan for Paul’s life and Paul trusted God. What can you trust God with today? Maybe you can trust that He will help you make a friend, or help you stay focused at school, or that He will always be with you?
• Find one person you can encourage today or one person you can say something nice to.
• Prayer: God, thank You so much for how much You love us. Thank You for being our encourager when there are so many discouragers in life. I love you so much, Jesus, and I thank You every day. Amen