READING: Job 17-20, Acts 21:1-36
The prophet Agabus brought word to Paul that if he continued to Jerusalem, his enemies would bind him and turn him over to the Gentiles. The people of God heard this message, and they pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. After all, they cared for Paul and wept over this prophecy as he was preparing to leave. Paul’s response, though, was filled with sacrificial obedience: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
Paul was ready to die for his Lord, and the prophecy seemingly didn’t alarm him. The believers could not convince him otherwise, so they left the entire situation in God’s hand. Paul trusted God, and they trusted Paul and God.
I can only pray that if a prophet told me what would happen to me, I would still trust God when the details were not pretty.
PRAYER: “God, grant me that kind of faithful, trusting obedience.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Check out the Voice of the Martyrs global prayer guide at https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/?_source_code=WHPB20C.
TOMORROW’S READING: Job 21-24, Acts 21:37-22:21
