Oh no, please don't go!

 

Acts 21:10-13(NKJV)

10And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 

11When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 

13Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Now not many of us are going to be called on to sacrifice our physical lives for Christ.  But symbolically speaking God will call many of us to surrender our lives in other ways.  It may be in the way of giving up a lucrative career to go into ministry.  It may be a call to the mission field.  It could be any number of things.  It could happen to us or to others we know.

Here is a question.  If it happens to others would you be supportive or would your first response be like many of the people in this Scripture who tried to  persuade Paul not to follow God's plan because you feared for their safety? 

If it were you that were called how would you respond to the concern of others?  Would you let it sway you from God's purpose or would you hold fast?

Having been in one of those positions in the past let me offer my prospective.  Never get between someone else and God.  If they feel called then be as encouraging as can be.   Don't focus on the possible sacrifice they may make, focus on the great reward that will be theirs for being willing to serve God, no matter what.

Nothing else in life will compare to following God's plan!