After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' " When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (Acts 21:10-14)Someone in Vegas recently referenced these verses. Unfortunately he said, "If I could tie up my hands and feet and plead with you not to come here I would!" Now there's some encouragement. The guy meant well; he wants us to be aware of where we are moving and some of the difficulties and struggles that lie ahead. Out of kindness he said this, maybe hoping to dissuade us from the seemingly impossible task ahead. He lives there; he knows what it's really like to live in Vegas. I believe he warned us out of love. He knows the challenge we're up against.
I love these verses in Acts. I think Paul is so cool. I think if I met him I might be a little scared of him, though. He's pretty hard core. Imagine all these people pleading with Paul and begging him not to go to Jerusalem. Tears were shed, emotions were felt, they were doing everything they could to get Paul not to go. And none of it worked.
If it were me, the whole tying-of-the-hands-and-feet-drama would have been enough to persuade me. But not Paul. He had a mission and stuck to it, no matter what. His focus was on God and he would do anything for Him; even if it meant death.
How about you? If God told you to do something would you do it? If God challenged you in a way that was completely out of your comfort zone would you do it? Would you lose focus? Have you lost focus?
The warning we got in Vegas shook me up a little bit, but not terribly (maybe if he actually tied up his hands and feet I would feel differently). I know that God has called us to move there. I know that it will be difficult. I am aware that we look like a bunch of idiots. But like Paul, we will not be dissuaded.
How often are you talked out of what you feel like God wants you to do? How often do people persuade you to do differently? How often do you talk yourself out of obedience?
I think the key is staying close to God. The closer you are to God the better you know Him. The better you know Him the more you trust Him. And the more you trust Him the less you will be dissuaded.
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