Acts 21:10, 12
After several days of visiting, a prophet from Judea by the name of Agabus came down to see us. He went right up to Paul, took Paul’s belt, and, in a dramatic gesture, tied himself up, hands and feet. He said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The Jews in Jerusalem are going to tie up the man who owns this belt just like this and hand him over to godless unbelievers.” When we heard that, we and everyone there that day begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge: “Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You’re looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?”
I have read the bible several times and never in my 38 years have I seen this scripture and it become so clear to me. Here is a man who through his travels have experienced many ups and downs and just before he makes another voyage he gets a prophetic word that he will be captured and handed over to unbelievers. Now Paul could have changed his plans by delaying his trip, change directions or cancel the trip all together, but he did not waiver in what he was going to do, he held firm to his assignment and said I am staying the course. He believed that God had a bigger plan than him just being captured and/or possible death, but regardless of the outcome he knew God was setting him up to do something miraculous!
Note he said look at what the Master would do through my obedience. The possibilities were endless if he only follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul's testimony is that of one who opened the eyes of the church through his teachings. Had he changed his direction or even changed his mind about this particular trip, what would be said of his testimony?
Paul had the opportunity to witness to unbelievers and government alike on that trip to Jerusalem. An opportunity he might have missed if he had changed directions or plans.
What would happen if we stayed the course that God has mapped out for us, if we were to stay focused on the assignment before us,if we were to stay committed to task at hand. Some how I could only see God be glorified!