Held in Readiness (Acts 21:1-14)

“Whether it was two days or a month or a longer time that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, dwelling on it, the Israelites remained encamped; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.  At the command of the Lord they remained encamped; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.”  (Num 9:22-23, Amplified)

Acts 21:1-14 (where we’ve been in Tentmakers) has the same flavor as these verses out of the book of Numbers.  In the wilderness, the Israelites never had to question the direction of the Holy Spirit; they could see it visibly with their eyes.  As Paul’s third missionary journey draws to a close, Luke makes sure to credit the Holy Spirit with the schedule and pace Paul’s missionary group is keeping.  They traveled quickly from Miletus to Tyre, with the Spirit-directed intention of “going to Jerusalem” (Acts 20:22).  But at Tyre, the Spirit tarried.  Although Paul couldn’t visibly see a cloud by day and a fire by night as the Israelites did in the wilderness, he recognized the authority of the Holy Spirit in the pleadings of the disciples at Tyre when they begged him not go to Jerusalem (Num 9:16).

When the Spirit was taken up from Tyre, Paul and his group moved on to Caesarea where the Spirit again encamped for a short time – long enough for a prophet to come to them, once again confirming that Paul would suffer at Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11).  To those traveling with Paul, this prophecy gave them cause to again beg Paul not go to Jerusalem.  The difference was that – unlike at Tyre – the Holy Spirit was not prompting their pleas.  In fact, He was lifting again, heading toward Jerusalem … and Paul knew it.

As we read into verse 13, Paul’s response to the desperation of his friends really strikes a chord with me.  He told them that he held himself “in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and imprisoned, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Ouch … What am I holding myself in readiness for?  What about you?  Depending on the culture/society from which you’re reading this, you may or may not be facing imprisonment or immediate death “for the name of the Lord Jesus,” but we – as the body of Christ – must all hold ourselves in readiness to move at the direction of the Holy Spirit.  When and where He tarries, we tarry, and when and where He moves, we move.  The question is not if He’s directing you, but Now What or where is the Holy Spirit leading you?  Hold yourself in readiness for the Lord; His "will be done!” (Acts 21:14).

Selah! (Acts 20:13-27)

Last night Mara surprised me by going through her bedtime routine without us even knowing about it.  She came into the living room dressed in her pj’s with a great big smile on her face.  When I asked her what was going on, she replied, “Mama, I know I always complain when we’re getting ready for bed, so today I decided to do everything by myself, so you wouldn’t have to hear me complain!”  All I could do was Selah!  (Selah is a Hebrew word used frequently in the Psalms, which means pause and calmly think of that.)

This morning her words were still rolling around in my head.  How – at 6 years old – could she recognize and acknowledge a specific situation in which she was prone to complain?  And not only that, but to intentionally take action to keep history from repeating itself.  Maybe her words stayed in my head because I had set myself up to complain just yesterday afternoon when I didn’t allow enough time to get us out of the house before going to gymnastics.  Or maybe it was because I haven’t had the urge to write for several weeks now (in case you’ve noticed).  I’ve just been waiting for God to give me something to say.  Turns out He gave Mara something worth saying.

Since I last posted, we have continued to follow Paul on his third missionary journey.  In today’s study, we catch up to Paul on the last leg of this journey.  Go ahead and read Acts 20:13-27.  I’ll warn you that the beginning of the passage includes several cities that may be unfamiliar.  Just push through, saying the names confidently … Don’t even think of using them as an excuse to get out of reading the rest.  (Yes, I’m talking to you.  Laughing.)

If you look earlier in Acts 20, you’ll see that Paul and his traveling partners (once again including Luke, the writer of Acts) begin our passage in Troas.  They are headed to Jerusalem, making several pit stops along the way.  One stop Paul was trying to steer clear of was Ephesus, but Paul wasn’t avoiding the Ephesians altogether.  Luke tells us (vs. 17) that Paul “sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to come to him there].” (Amplified).  So if he wanted to talk to the elders, why wouldn’t he just go to Ephesus?

We discussed a few of the possibilities in Tentmakers on Sunday.  Maybe there was still some unrest after the Artemis (Diana) riot (Acts 19:23-20:1).  Maybe Paul was afraid that the need would be so great that he wouldn’t be able to leave in time to make it to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost (Acts. 20:16).  In verse 25, Paul tells the elders that this is goodbye.  Maybe he couldn’t bear the thought of saying that to the whole congregation.  Maybe … (you can fill in your own “maybe”).  The ‘Maybe ...’ I filled in this morning came from Mara’s statement about avoiding complaining.  I wonder if Paul sensed that he would be tempted to complain about (and work on) the problems he would see in the church from close-up instead of keeping the focus on his farewell address. 

Now What?  Well, next week we’ll be studying the rest of Paul’s message to the Ephesian elders.  Until then, I challenge you to do what I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future:  Recognize and acknowledge when and where you may be tempted to complain, and (like Mara … and maybe Paul) do something intentional to turn your complaining into a great big smile.  “… if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from … the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).  Selah!