March 14, 2011

Reading for March 14-18
Acts 21:1-26
Monday

“The disciples warned Paul — the Holy Spirit prophesying through them — not to go on to Jerusalem” Acts 21:4

There Comes a Time When Each of Us Must Lose Control


Pastor’s Reflection

It will happen either voluntarily or involuntarily, but it will happen. At some point in each of our lives we will lose control of our future.

Scholar Tim Keller comments, “Until now Luke has recorded a “very much in control” apostle Paul. He makes plans, set goals and reaches them. He determines to go to certain places and plant churches and for the most part he accomplishes his goals. But from the moment of his arrival in Jerusalem Paul’s life changes very radically. He is arrested and imprisoned and the rest of his life is a set reactions to the opposition of his enemies. Before he was on the offensive. Now he is on the defensive. Acts 13-20 records three successful missionary journeys. The rest of Acts is a series of five trials and what happens between them.

I wonder if God has not set it up this way. When we are young we go where we want to go. As we age we grow more and more dependent like or not. Our choices are increasingly contingent. In the most basic things such as heath I will at some point concede control to God.

It seems to me that a terrific goal in life would be to cede control in increasing ways to God before I have no choice.

In what ways have you succeeded in doing so?