Following Orders

Scripture: Having come in sight of Cyprus, we passed to the south of it and sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship’s cargo was to be unloaded. When we found the disciples, we remained there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem ... While we stayed there many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had arrived, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet, saying, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this manner the Jews at Jerusalem shall bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" Acts 21:3-4,10-11

Observation: Paul is twice warned by friends whom he trusts not to go to Jerusalem. He goes anyway, declaring he is prepared to be imprisoned or even die for Christ. The question is, though, why would he think that was expected or even required? There can, it seems, only be three answers to this question. First, he was truly seeking to become a martyr. Second, he was still ashamed of his past persecution of believers and sought to be prosecuted as a penitence. Third, he wished to be arrested to he could plead his case to Caesar as a Roman citizen and thus go to Rome (which he did).

None of these make a lot of sense. Paul knew his mission on earth, continued to write to churches, and never otherwise indicated a desire to have his ministry end. Paul trusted in forgiveness through Jesus and thus had set aside his shame of his past actions against the church. And the scenario of pleading through a court trial to be transported to Rome as a prisoner ignores the fact that he was in Greece just two chapters ago and likely closer to Rome than Jerusalem ... he could have just gone there himself.

Application: There is a fourth option ... Paul is just obediently following orders.

How often do I follow orders when I know the outcome is bleak? I guess the first problem is, I rarely hear orders. Yes, I knew I needed to serve at Alpha. But I can't really think of a time when I was told "do X, and bad-thing-Y will happen to you" and I did X. Paul gave an example of someone willing to do whatever he is told to do for Jesus, regardless of the earthly consequence. He trusted that freedom or arrest, saving or death, or whatever else might happen was part of God's plan, and was willing to receive any outcome.

What outcomes might be in store for me? It certainly depends on the orders I receive.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. May I - myself and Laurie - listen to your call, your orders, your direction, your will. My answer is 'yes'. Amen.