Acts 21:30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
Yesterday in Church the topic was about Paul. The preacher spoke of Paul’s struggles and his victories. But he failed to present the human Paul, who had deficiencies and made mistakes even at his spiritual peak. A person who loved the Lord and whom the Lord loved, yet was not given everything, even though he was under abundant grace. He had to become an overcomer.
I have pointed out many times that Paul was a bad orator. A preacher who caused people to sleep with his boring, long speeches. People said he wrote strong letters, but in person there was no fire in his sharing. He asked the Lord thrice for help in this matter, but the Lord left him to fend for himself and overcome, stating the grace given unto him was sufficient.
Today’s scripture points to the second part of Paul where he erred. Paul had beforehand received multiple warnings through people and also through the mouth of a Prophet about what awaited him in Jerusalem. Was Paul complacent, careless, dismissive, flippant or negligent to ignore it?
The warning did not tell him not to go, but was about being careful, and he did not. In Jerusalem, Paul did something which he himself was a champion against, that is, traditions. He, under the influence of the praise of the Church leaders, consented to be party to a Jewish tradition just to please some to become Christians.
Anyone wanting to become a Christian cannot knowingly build bridges to gradually move residence from falsehood to truth. One needs to deny or reject falsehood and accept the truth to become a Christian. One cannot say I will continue a few traditions, or worship fewer gods before accepting the Lord God.
A seasoned, mature Paul too became prey to praises and adoration. He did something that had no sense or anything to do with God. He was warned, but instead of understanding the warning, he took it as a challenge and went ahead. This one mistake led to his death, but the Lord, in His mercy, made sure Paul completed his mission even after being arrested in Rome.
Let us be extra careful when people keep praising you. If you do not have anyone who can correct you around you, then you are in great danger. Do not hate or flee from the person who rebukes you; instead, give thought and see if that person is seeing something that you are blind to. That one person may be more valuable than a hundred who please you.
[Prayer Starter]
Lord, You are Almighty God. You are a Merciful God, always wanting to help us, but You will not fail the purpose You created us for, which is to overcome darkness. Lord, we pray that we understand we are not perfect and need to work to be perfect in You. You help us, but that does not mean we can outsource everything unto You. Lord, we pray we understand we need to take caution at every time and never let our guard down…
We make this prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
[Reference Scriptures]
2 Corinthians 11:6 But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
2 Corinthians 10:10 For [his] letters, say they, [are] weighty and powerful; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak, and [his] speech contemptible.
Acts 20:9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Acts 21:4, 10-14, 18-20, 23-24
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
10 And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
18 And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave [their] heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.