Acts 21:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 And when we had
parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and
the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we
went aboard and set sail.3 When
we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and
landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the
disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they
were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went
on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we
were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one
another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
As I read this scripture
passage, I thought that it was a very good example of how we as brothers and
sisters in Christ need to treat one another.
Notice when Paul left Ephesus they had to tear themselves away from
them. They were all so close that it
grieved them to have to see them go.
Wow, that is a Christian bond. It
is my desire that I could have such an impact on others that they would bid me
farewell in such a manner. Usually it is
more like, “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”. It goes to show that I am no Paul, it doesn’t
matter if I am here or not.
We see it again when
Paul leaves Tyre, only there for seven days all the people accompany him to the
ship and they kneel and pray right there on the beach! They didn’t have to have a little private
prayer meeting they wanted to the world to know that their strength came from
the Lord. None of them wanted him to
leave, they truly loved him as a Christian brother and wanted him to return to
them. However, they all knew that when
he reached Jerusalem there would be not return.
To live a life like Paul
that was not his own but belonged to the Father is life well lived. I get so caught up in this world that I
forget that this world is not my home. I
struggle with how others perceive me, why others don’t accept me, why friends
turn from me. Notice a pattern, it is
all about “me” and that is so very wrong.
Breaking that pattern only comes with putting my faith, hope, and trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ and clinging to Him in all situations. It is so easy to say that others opinions do
not matter but it is altogether different to live that way. I struggle for acceptance from others but
this I know, I have been accepted into the family of God, I have been adopted
by the LORD of Lords and the KING of Kings.
My hope is not in the things of this earth but in the hope of my future
in Him.
I long to be accepted,
as Paul was, because He was truly an example of living a life for Christ. I long to make a difference for Him in this
world, I just have no idea on how to do so.
Because of that I continue to seek HIM with all my heart and to cling to
His promises for me.
Seeking Him with all my
heart,
Sheila
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