“Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.” (Acts 21:13–15, ESV)
While spreading the gospel message in Caesarea, Paul and his travel companions took a few days to stay with an evangelist named Philip (Acts 21:8). There, a man named Agabus, came to see Paul. Agabus was a prophet. Agabus warned Paul that the time was coming when Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would bind up Paul (arrest him) and turn him over to the Roman authorities for persecution. Most people who are given a warning like this from a prophet would stay away from Jerusalem! On the contrary, Paul knew in his heart that God was calling him to go preach in Jerusalem. There, Paul would face his destiny.
On the day that the prophet Agabus gave that ominous warning, Paul’s companions pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. However, Paul knew Jerusalem was to be his destiny. God had planned that part of Paul’s life. Paul told his fellow companions that he was “ready to not only be imprisoned but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Not long after, Paul’s companions too understood that God wanted Paul in Jerusalem. Then, they also “got ready and went up to Jerusalem” with Paul (Acts 21:15).
If you read closely the scripture for today, it is plain to see that Paul was ready to go to Jerusalem. Though going there was dangerous for Paul as it was for Jesus, Paul was “ready”. So too, Paul’s fellow missionary companions made themselves "ready" to go with him. Part of being faithful to the will of God means you need to make yourself “ready” to follow God’s will. You need to “be ready” when the call of God comes.
Are you ready?
There have been many times that I have felt God was planning something important for me to do. In the hours, days, weeks, or even years before I was called to this task, I felt God preparing me for that day. God wanted me to be ready for that moment. Just as Jesus readied himself for His arrest while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, you and I will need to ready ourselves for those important moments when God will require faith and devotion.
In special, holy moments, you need to be ready to fulfill God’s will for you. “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:14)
For months, a friend of mine felt ill at ease. She confided to me that God was “up to something important”. She prayed many hours seeking God’s will. Then, just when another person might lapse back into “normalcy”, my friend felt a lump on her breast. Over a week, she felt it grow. She knew in her heart of hearts she needed to go to a doctor. When she did, she found out it was cancer.
Most people who find out they have cancer go into shock. Not my friend! She knew this was part of what God had been planning for months. She followed through with surgery and radiation with chemotherapy, all the while knowing that it was God’s will that she be healed. She had prepared herself well. She was convinced when she prayed that she would be healed.
Today, my friend is cancer free. She has been for two decades. However, overcoming breast cancer gave her a very important perspective. Now, she meets and comforts women who are going through breast cancer. She prays with them and encourages them in their fight to survive. My friend could not be the wonderful mission worker to women with breast cancer without going through all the difficulties herself. As she looks back on her ordeal, she realizes today that when the cancer came, she was ready for it. God had prepared her for that fight long before. God had also prepared her for a beautiful ministry to others.
I have NEVER met another truly faithful person who was not being “readied” for their next work in Jesus’ name! God is constantly preparing us for what is coming. Even before you die, don’t be surprised if God begins to make ready your soul for eternal life! It is all part of HIS plan to have you with HIM forever.
God made sure Abraham was ready for what was to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah. Elijah was made ready to teach Elisha, a future prophet. Mary and Joseph made ready to travel to Egypt to save Jesus’ life. Paul was made ready to travel to Jerusalem. Paul’s companions got ready for their own travel to Jerusalem. Jesus made ready for His crucifixion and resurrection long beforehand. Make sure you are ready for your next mission, ready for the Day of the Lord, ready to forgive, ready to listen, ready for eternal life. What is God preparing you for right now?
On the day that the prophet Agabus gave that ominous warning, Paul’s companions pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. However, Paul knew Jerusalem was to be his destiny. God had planned that part of Paul’s life. Paul told his fellow companions that he was “ready to not only be imprisoned but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Not long after, Paul’s companions too understood that God wanted Paul in Jerusalem. Then, they also “got ready and went up to Jerusalem” with Paul (Acts 21:15).
If you read closely the scripture for today, it is plain to see that Paul was ready to go to Jerusalem. Though going there was dangerous for Paul as it was for Jesus, Paul was “ready”. So too, Paul’s fellow missionary companions made themselves "ready" to go with him. Part of being faithful to the will of God means you need to make yourself “ready” to follow God’s will. You need to “be ready” when the call of God comes.
Are you ready?
There have been many times that I have felt God was planning something important for me to do. In the hours, days, weeks, or even years before I was called to this task, I felt God preparing me for that day. God wanted me to be ready for that moment. Just as Jesus readied himself for His arrest while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, you and I will need to ready ourselves for those important moments when God will require faith and devotion.
In special, holy moments, you need to be ready to fulfill God’s will for you. “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:14)
For months, a friend of mine felt ill at ease. She confided to me that God was “up to something important”. She prayed many hours seeking God’s will. Then, just when another person might lapse back into “normalcy”, my friend felt a lump on her breast. Over a week, she felt it grow. She knew in her heart of hearts she needed to go to a doctor. When she did, she found out it was cancer.
Most people who find out they have cancer go into shock. Not my friend! She knew this was part of what God had been planning for months. She followed through with surgery and radiation with chemotherapy, all the while knowing that it was God’s will that she be healed. She had prepared herself well. She was convinced when she prayed that she would be healed.
Today, my friend is cancer free. She has been for two decades. However, overcoming breast cancer gave her a very important perspective. Now, she meets and comforts women who are going through breast cancer. She prays with them and encourages them in their fight to survive. My friend could not be the wonderful mission worker to women with breast cancer without going through all the difficulties herself. As she looks back on her ordeal, she realizes today that when the cancer came, she was ready for it. God had prepared her for that fight long before. God had also prepared her for a beautiful ministry to others.
I have NEVER met another truly faithful person who was not being “readied” for their next work in Jesus’ name! God is constantly preparing us for what is coming. Even before you die, don’t be surprised if God begins to make ready your soul for eternal life! It is all part of HIS plan to have you with HIM forever.
God made sure Abraham was ready for what was to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah. Elijah was made ready to teach Elisha, a future prophet. Mary and Joseph made ready to travel to Egypt to save Jesus’ life. Paul was made ready to travel to Jerusalem. Paul’s companions got ready for their own travel to Jerusalem. Jesus made ready for His crucifixion and resurrection long beforehand. Make sure you are ready for your next mission, ready for the Day of the Lord, ready to forgive, ready to listen, ready for eternal life. What is God preparing you for right now?
If burdens become heavy today, See the Uplifting Video for Today entitled, "Precious Jesus, I am Ready!"... Just click below!