Providence

 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:12 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.21.12.ESV

Just because God ordains some difficult providence upon someone, doesn't mean to say that we should wish it upon them. A prophet Agabus revealed that Paul would be arrested when he went to Jerusalem. Understandably, Paul's brethren didn't want him to go.

If God ordains some difficult providence, we have to go along with it, even if we would rather some easier path. Paul trusted that his arrest would be for God's glory. As it turned out, by appealing to Caesar, he got an all expenses paid trip to Rome, the centre of the world at the time, to continue sharing the gospel.

Even if Paul would be put in chains, the gospel is never chained. Even though many Christians to this day are incarcerated around the world for their faith, the Good News continues to ring out. Nothing can thwart God's purposes, not even persecution.

We might not be facing arrest and imprisonment today. Yet perhaps following Christ would result in ostracisation from our families. We need to count the cost of following Him, and realise the immeasurable reward of eternal glory.

'Our Father God, may we count the cost of following Christ, and realise the immense reward of doing so. In His name we pray, amen'

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