WEDNESDAY - 16TH FEBRUARY, 2022
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
THOSE WHO CAN'T BE BOUGHT FROM THEIR PATH
Read Acts 21:1-14
Acts 21:13-14, KJV
"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."
Once you're cut for a vocation and you have discovered the peeping or revealing of that vocation to your soul, it becomes your path in life. If you have therefore found it as your obsession and path in life, it becomes difficult for any to persuade you out of it except you are not first persuaded of that vocation in your soul.
When Paul was apprehended by God on the way to Damascus, God set his assignment while clearing the doubt of Ananias concerning him. God had said he would be a chosen instrument who will carry His name before Gentiles, Kings and the children of Israel while He'll show him how much he must suffer for His own name's sake [Acts 9:15-16]. Mark the part that says, "to carry my name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel".
Paul began ministry and occasion must be fulfilled that he carry Christ's name before Gentiles, kings etc. On one of such occasion, by the Holy Spirit, he was told not to go to Jerusalem by the brethren. Later on, Agabus, a notable prophet prophesied same warning while hinting that bound awaits Paul in Jerusalem. These two prophecies were from God, not the devil. They were also truthful ones as we later saw that Paul was taken and bound. However, if they were heeded, they would have hindered Paul from appearing before somebody like Felix whom the Chief Captain transferred him to - thus fulfilling part of his calling and threading his predestined path [Acts 24:24-25].
His being jailed only served as an occasion to reaching many Gentiles, notables and children of Israel with the gospel. Christ's appearance to encourage him and tell him what his mission is - to carry his name and testimony before all even beyond Jerusalem [Acts 23:11] affirms his purpose again. So, Paul had chosen right and refused rightly. But, may I call your attention to how Paul refused to heed those two prophecies despite their genuineness. Paul said, "Why should you break my heart? I'm ready to not only be bound but die for Christ". Despite all to dissuade him from following the path earmarked for him to tread in the beginning of his calling, his heart was set. This is how the heart of all destiny children would be set on what they have discovered as assignment or events that God has said should be done by them.
First of all, you'll see all children of destiny having inclination towards a specific field. Persuade them not to go for that and you'll see them refuse often and often. Do you know why? The persuasion in their soul and identification of the path to follow is stronger than the external one. If the first prophecy and those who affirmed it couldn't change Paul's intention from going to Jerusalem, should the second notable one not get it done? Yet, Paul was even rebuking them stylishly for breaking his heart and dissuading him from the path he should take.
May your path be clear to you this way even if it's a hard path. May you embrace it and find it embrace you. Some would be found in Science and Technology, Art and Humanities, Accounting and Business Studies. Whatsoever your field may be in life, just like Paul's face was attuned to Jerusalem and Jerusalem only, may yours be attuned to same. May nothing be big enough to buy you from the way you should go. If you're to become a martial artiste, may you not become a sportsman - kicking the ball with your legs.
PRAYER: Lord, I refuse to be dissuaded from the road you've ordained for me and ordained me for. May I be unflinching until all men join me to say, "if it's the Lord's will".
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12
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