Beyond Fear: A Resolution for Christ (Acts 21:13)

As Paul said farewell to the Ephesian elders with tears at Miletus (Acts 20:37) and journeyed on to Tyre and Caesarea, the same warning resonated at every encounter. Individuals moved by the Holy Spirit—like the prophet Agabus, who dramatically bound his own hands with Paul's belt—persistently pleaded with the Apostle, telling him, "You will be bound when you reach Jerusalem, and handed over to the Gentiles." Even Paul’s own companions wept and begged him not to go.

This situation could have easily instilled fear in Paul. Perhaps there was even confusion between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the emotional pleas of the people. Yet, amidst all that potential fear and vulnerability, he declares one of the greatest resolutions in Christian history, found in Acts 21:13:

"Then Paul answered, 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'"

Paul did not deny the prophecy. He did not seek to avoid the suffering. He was not afraid of death. Why? Because his life no longer belonged to himself. His entire path was marked by one solid, unwavering purpose: "for the name of the Lord Jesus."

This is the power of our God-given mission in Christ—the power of purpose that must be fulfilled within the Lord. When the purpose of our lives is firmly fixed on God, we can overcome our circumstances, our emotions, and even the loving pleas of those around us.

Warnings, like the prophecy of Agabus, also come into our lives: warnings that say, "If you go this way, you will suffer loss," "you must sacrifice," or "hardship awaits." These warnings try to make us hesitate and sit down in despair. We must look back and examine ourselves: are we retreating too easily from our mission—our calling—or harboring such a heart?

But Paul challenges us today. Our faith must not stop at merely 'knowing' Jesus. It must progress to a 'resolution to surrender our lives' to His calling. By proclaiming, "I am ready even to die," Paul allowed his own weakness to vanish, enabling the strong power of Christ alone to work through him.

After Paul's firm resolution, the disciples stopped weeping and confessed: "The Lord's will be done." (Acts 21:14)

Beloved congregation, where is the purpose of your life today? May our suffering and weakness become a platform for fulfilling God's will. Let us, like Paul, declare: "I am ready not only to be bound, but to endure every hardship in my life for the name of the Lord Jesus!"

When we make this resolution, all our fears will vanish, and we will finally be able to live the strong and bold life of a disciple, clothed in the power of Christ and changing the world. I bless you in the name of the Lord that we may all live such a life. Amen.