TUESDAY- 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
I GOT MY MIND MADE UP
Read Acts 21:1-14
Acts 21:13, KJV
"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".
I once heard somebody told a story of a young chap who said he would jump down from a storey building. Crowd eventually gathered. However, he was being hypocritical about it. Yes, because he neither jumped but rather repeatedly echo, "I will jump". If he really wanted to jump, he wouldn't do much announcement but rather take off into the air. By such action, he'll be measured to have been very very serious. We ought to move from intention or profession to acting. Many people are really really reluctant when it comes to acting or taking the step that matters. They are not different from the King's Horseman in the Nobel Laeuretes' Wole Soyinka's _Death and the King's Horseman_ . The King's Horseman according to the Yoruba tradition ought to die to accompany the spirit of the deceased king to the realm beyond. However, his reluctance proves he actually does not want to die. His delay proves he loves life and would device to cling to it. This man is therefore slow in action - especially the sort that's expected from a ready heart.
God forbid! May you not be like these two fellows above. May you be such one who has made up his mind and then follows it with action. May you be like Jesus with a tilted face set towards Jerusalem. May you have made up your mind on what to pursue and not resign from in this life.
In today's passage, by the Spirit of God, Paul is first signalled that he should not go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4). Did he hearken? No! On another occasion not at all distanced from the first; a reputable prophet by the name Agabus prophesies that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem.
Acts 21:11, KJV
"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".
The prophecy is so dramatic and graphic that a shivering heart would have been scared out of what is purposeful for him to do. I just learnt here that knowing the will of God before hand pays a lot. If you do, nothing could come shaking or violently root you up. It'll help your perspective of things and give you right judgement on new matters. That's why it's popularly said that those who stand for nothing will fall for everything. They can't but be tossed to and fro. Since God doesn't contradict Himself, it means that word of knowledge was not given to Paul to deter him from appearing before and witnessing to kings and nobles as the Lord Jesus had afore said of his ministry and assignment.
Acts 9:15-16, KJV
"15 But the Lord said...for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake"
That Paul would even suffer many things which these two predictions warned about isn't a new thing. They are disclosures Paul has been living with and bearing in mind till then. So, those prophecies [while they're from God] are rather for the sole purpose of affirming and preparing his soul ready again for what he'll face. Also, they are timely predictions to prepare him for the last phase of his ministry and the need to hold on. No wonder, even Jesus appears to him while in bound encouraging and reminding him of the need to further bear the gospel before kings.
Acts 23:11, KJV
"And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome".
So, we should know to what end a word of knowledge is given. For Paul, it was never intended to stop him but encourage him to face what lies ahead him in grace and the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. But looking at these words of knowledge on different occasions, you'll have thought Paul would have perished or repented of any thought to go to Jerusalem. Rather, Paul runs the contrary. He tells the brethren who had begun to weep and plead with him not to leave why they'll be doing that to break his heart. He is firm and decisive in his speech. Paul only sees them as being petty and hindering God's will that should be fulfilled in him and through him. God has already told him that prison and bounds await him wherever he goes. That is not to scare him but to prepare him ready and make him remain steadfast in assignment. Paul in replying the brethren cautions them not to cry. He admits he's not only ready to be bound but to die for Christ if need be. That's how much he's sold to purpose. He could even go the extra mile. This is nothing else but a mind that's made up. And if I'll say, no mind is made up which doesn't first of all have a cause behind his resoluteness. How worthy is your cause?
This is the kind of person God wants you to be. Purposeful heart that can not be persuaded out of God's will and all classified for him. Paul is so strong in subduing the situation under his control that all the pleading eventually quietened when they observes he'll not be persuaded. They rather commits him into God's hands and that His will would be done in his life. This is who I want to be. I want to model after this kind of immovable resolution. Some will call it stubbornness and others label it as pride. But this is resolution coming from a prepared heart that knows God's will and will refuse to be moved from it. A heart that's ready to do the will of God - eat His meat and finish it. As a matter of fact, why Paul refuses to be dissuaded is so that he might finish his course.
Therefore, beware of pettiness when purpose is at stake. At the edge of doing the will of God which is utmost to your destiny and will be obedience to God, you'll meet with dissuasion that you must be firm with and not allow to turn you. Some could have temporarily cut off family to travel abroad for studies, go into the army or pursue a life, career or destiny that'll be one day glorious and for which they'll be famed on earth and rewarded in heaven. However, they allow voices of parents, siblings, sponsors and sometimes mentors to drown them. This way, they couldn't travel into this future of excellent things of eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of any man what God has prepared for them. I pray for you that you shall be loosed into your greatness. You won't stay back when you should journey into purpose. No voice will be strong enough to win you over from the future that God has preordained for you even pre your conception. One man once said he stayed back in the village when his age mates were leaving for Lagos in those days. He said it became the reason for his smallness till date. Some of you also, there's a call on your head. I hope you'll heed it and pursue it. If not, you'll have successfully being hindered from seeing your better days and that off course lies in front.
PRAYER: Lord, I receive grace and gift of discernment. May the devil not disguise through authority figures to dissuade me from path I should take and the way I should go.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19
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