DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GODLY ADVICE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GODLY ADVICE?

"And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem." (Acts 21:4)

This is a challenging verse. The text says that they advised Paul not to go to Jerusalem. This was through the Spirit. But what spirit? Was it the Holy Spirit or their own spirit? 

I know that people often give advice from their own spirit of love and concern, to help other people enduring hard times. Job was an example receiving advice from his friends. But was their advice from God or from their own spirit of concern?

I personally believe that Paul knew the voice of God very well, and that he knew that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem, knowing full well that he would be put in prison and possibly martyred. When he received conflicting counsel, he could stand strong in his own understanding of God's calling. He could say, " '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' " (vs. 13)

He could not be deterred from what he felt in his heart God was calling him to. Finally, the disciples conceded to Paul and said, " 'The will of the Lord be done.' "

I don't think this was an easy time for the Apostle, with his friends pulling him one way, and his own spirit pulling another. They were causing him some inner turmoil, breaking his heart with their comments. But he was committed to the inner call of the Lord Jesus.

When we are inundated with advice, it may be godly advice, but we need to follow God's call for our lives as best we understand it. It may not be an easy choice, but when the commitment is made, there is an inner peace that follows.

This also speaks to me to not just speak out of my own feelings and concern for people giving advice that may not be God's will for that person. In the end, it is a personal decision that must be made, and I need to be careful to not discourage that person from following what they believe is God's calling. Better to say."The Lord's will be done."

Love, Dad