Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared when the people, “would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, the will of the Lord be done” where we read:
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
The verse begins, “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when he” which means “and at the time and moment Paul” “would not be persuaded” or “refused to be moved, induced or convinced to believe”, “we ceased” which means “we, Luke, the men traveling with them and the disciples at Caesarea stopped and refrained from attempting to convince Paul”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how he, the people traveling with them and the disciples in “Caesarea” realized that “Paul” was not going to be convinced to refrain from going to Jerusalem, so they ended their efforts to stop him.
The verse goes on to say, “... The will of the Lord be done.” Luke continued with the words, “the will of the Lord” which means “the choice, precept, purpose and pleasure belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power to decide; master, and the title of God the Messiah” “be done” or “arise, appear and come upon the stage”. Luke shared how the fellow believers in Jesus resigned to the idea that “God's purposes and will” were to “arise and appear”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how he, his fellow travelers and the believers in “Caesarea” realized they were incapable of convincing “Paul” not to go to “Jerusalem”, so they resolved to have “God's will” be performed with and upon him. God's desire is to have a loving personal relationship with every person who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and guide them step by step through their lives. Those who are wise observe the determination of “Paul” and surrender themselves to God's will to lead them wherever He desires.
Next time Luke shares, “after those days we took up our carriages”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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