October 6, 2011 - Acts 20:22-23

“’And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.’” Acts 20:22-23.
Paul’s journey brings him to a port close to Ephesus, so he summons the elders of the community of believers to come to him. When they arrive, Paul speaks of the commitment of his ministry among them. He encourages them to stay true to the message of Jesus even through tough times. Paul shifts his message to the future of his ministry, indicating that he is going to Jerusalem. Yet he doesn’t know much else. He only knows what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart along the way to Jerusalem. Paul knows that he is going to face even rougher times than he experienced before in Ephesus, yet he is compelled to go.
I would like to think that if God required me to go through hard times or go to prison for His sake that I would stay fully true to Him, glorifying Him in all things. In a sense, I am going through some rough times with the chronic condition manifesting in my foot. It is my desire and my hope that I continue to glorify God through all of the pain. This is a prison of sorts in that I am locked up within this pain. Yet, I have never felt closer to God, and I am learning so many things that I would not have learned if I wasn’t in this condition. The difference is that I had no indication beforehand that this was going to happen. Paul knew that going to Jerusalem meant “prison and hardships.” And Paul knew that for some reason this was God’s clear direction for him. And God was always with him through all of pain that was to come.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been compelled to go somewhere or do something fully knowing that something negative was going to happen? If so, what was it like, and what was your response? Has God told you to do anything that you thought was not going to end well? If so, how did it turn out?
Prayer: Father, help me to know that You are with me through pain and difficult times. You may not deliver me from experiencing rough times, but please help me to know that Your presence is with me in and through rough times. Amen.