Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 21
10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. 11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. 11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Commentary:
21:10–11 Agabus had earlier prophesied a coming famine (11:28). OT prophets often acted out their prophecies (e.g., Isa. 8:1–4; 20:1–4; Jer. 13:1–11; 19:1–13; 27:1–22).
21:13 Paul, as a disciple of Jesus, is willing to follow in Jesus’ steps (1 Pet. 2:21) and to die in Jerusalem as Jesus did (Luke 9:51; 18:31–33).
21:13 Paul, as a disciple of Jesus, is willing to follow in Jesus’ steps (1 Pet. 2:21) and to die in Jerusalem as Jesus did (Luke 9:51; 18:31–33).
Questions:
- God also speaks through the WISDOM of other people. God will often use other people in your life, GODLY people, to confirm things He might be doing. People might tell you they have a word for you from the Lord, or it might even happen in a casual conversation where something they say stands out to you that you think MIGHT be from God. How open are you to receive advice from godly people in your life? Are you quick to discard them when what they say doesn't line up with what you want?
- But we must be careful to take what people say to us as CONFIRMATION of something God might be already speaking to us, but not DIRECTION. Remember, Paul's friends correctly prophesied about suffering in Jerusalem, but they also contradicted what the Lord had already told him about whether he should go there. The things people say, even godly people, must be checked against the Word and against what the Spirit is saying to YOU. Are you giving the words of others too much weight in your life? How can we, like Paul, better sift out human interpretation that might be leading us towards disobedience?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would grow in your willingness to hear truth from other believers.
- That you would check everything anyone tells you against the truth of God's Word.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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