November 10, 2011 - Acts 21:4-5a

“Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. Acts 21:4-5a.
On his way to Jerusalem, Paul and his companions landed in Tyre, which is on the Mediterranean coast 80 miles north of Jerusalem. Once there, Paul found some followers of Jesus and stayed with them for one week. These believers heard from the Holy Spirit what Paul was headed for in Jerusalem and urged him not to go. Christians were being persecuted throughout the Roman Empire and especially in this Middle Eastern region, and they didn’t want to see Paul go through pain and possibly death in Jerusalem.
It is interesting that Paul heard clearly from the Holy Spirit that he was to go to Jerusalem and would face very harsh treatment; yet, the same Holy Spirit seemed to have led these believers in Tyre to tell him not to go. It appears there is some confusion. I believe that the disciples in Tyre heard correctly from the Holy Spirit that Paul was headed for trouble in Jerusalem, but instead of encouraging him to stand firm in his faith, these disciples urged Paul not to go. They translated what the Spirit told them in a way that could have actually hindered Paul from fulfilling the mission God had called him to do.
Sometimes I don’t pay very close attention to the power that is in my tongue. I may speak up too quickly or too flippantly, and realize later that what I said had negative outcomes as a result. I didn’t control my thoughts and allowed my tongue to speak. These disciples in Tyre had good intentions and spoke to Paul out of their love for him, but if Paul had followed through with their request, he might have missed doing God’s bidding.
Questions to consider: How can you know if what you say on an issue is accurate and not misleading? What can be done to take more care in controlling the tongue? Is there a situation today that you need to go back and straighten out as a result of what you said?
Prayer: Father, please help me to take care in what I say to those around me. Help me to temper my words with gentleness and thoughtfulness. Amen.