Good morning people who are ready to follow God,

Acts 21:10-14 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 Jewish leaders in 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.”

Paul was ready to not only be bound for the cause of Christ, but to die if it was the LORD’S will.

What are we willing to allow in our lives for the cause of Christ?

It’s interesting to note that Paul said, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?” He did not say this about what he was about to go through for the cause of Christ but because those he loved were trying to stop it from taking place.

Let’s not stand in the way of God’s plan for our lives or for other people’s lives. Let’s not focus on eradicating all of the suffering and persecution because we are Believers, but rather, let’s focus on strengthening and empowering each other to walk with grace and perseverance, yes, even through the suffering and persecution.

I also notice Paul could not be dissuaded from going, even though he knew persecution awaited him. He was not a sadist – I’m sure there was an element of wrestling with the thought of the impending suffering, as Christ did in the garden – but he was fully committed to walking in God’s plan, regardless of the personal cost.

I pray we are those people this year…people who give our everything for the cause of Christ.