This Kind of Loyalty

Acts 21:10-14 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When 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.'" Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then 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."  So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."  

My kids and I sat at the table after reading this, talking about how we desire to have the heart of Paul who was unswervingly loyal to the Living God.  Then we prayed knowing we cannot muster that kind of loyalty.  We totally need the Spirit of God to work in us.  Father, please work in us to unite our hearts to fear Your name for we are still so fragmented in our loyalty, preferring our safety or sense of security in wealth or personal comfort or pleasures that we somehow convince ourselves we must have.  You instruct us to love others, to die to ourselves that we may live, to serve rather than be served...Paul "got" this.  He understood that his life was entirely in Your hands and at Your disposal and that the light and momentary afflictions he would suffer were working out a far more exceeding glory (2 Cor. 4:17-18).  Grant us, Lord, this kind of loyalty to you.

We also want to come alongside people "doing hard" and say, press on, fight the good fight, Jesus is worth it all.  Today we want to highlight our blogging friends, the Masers.   After months of tedious paperwork and hoops to hop through, they just found out they made it to the waiting list to adopt a little boy from Ethiopia.  To celebrate, they are providing the opportunity for those who are joining them in their journey of adoption to win $150 cash.  That's right...go here for details, and join the fun.

The will of the Lord be done.