Do the Unpractical

In Acts 21, while Paul is headed toward Jerusalem, he stops in different places and stays with fellow disciples. He is urged by prophets and their prophesies to skip over Jerusalem because of what has been revealed by the Holy Spirit to them of what will happen to Paul in Jerusalem, as described in Acts 21:10-14,"After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, `The Holy Spirit says, `In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered,`Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, `The Lord's will be done.' "
Paul had many warnings of the perils he was about to face, but he was not about to lack courage by remaining in a safe place. We all wish we could remain in our comfort zones where we are content and feel safe, but if we did how would we be being the hands and feet of Jesus or showing the love of God the way He wants us to? How would we be doing God's will for our lives if we forever stayed in our comfort zones? As Paul took courage in the will of God being the best way for His life (even the threat of if it costing him his life), we need to take complete trust in God and His will. We need to follow through with His will no matter how insecure or out of control we feel of the situation. God knows our future and sees the big picture. We just have to put our trust in Him and His will even if no one understands (even if we don't understand.) Do we think that God's will is being practical? We have to do the unthinkable, the insensible. We have to go beyond the practical. Paul went beyond the practical when he decided to go on to Jerusalem when everyone was pleading with him to take the safe way out, the sensible way. Let us be like Paul and not do the reasonable, but do the unpractical.

--Jacqui (C-Force Team Member)