Scripture

Plans fail for lack of counsel,
    but with many advisers they succeed.

~Proverbs 15:22, NIV

Quote

“Those who consult none but themselves are generally ill-advised.”

~Matthew Henry

Paul was dead set on returning to Jerusalem and none of his friends encouraged him because they believed his going back would be a mistake. The prophet Agabus told Paul plainly, “The Holy Spirit has revealed to me that you will be bound by the Jews if you go to Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles.” This is exactly what happened. Ironically, the same Paul who couldn’t wait to get to Jerusalem, couldn’t wait to get out of Jerusalem and he never mentions returning again.

I agree with John Philips one hundred percent. The Jerusalem church was bound up in legalism. They had not made a complete break from Judaism. They were clinging to Jewish traditions that had nothing to do with Christianity. Paul was determined to change their mindset. They did not want Paul in Jerusalem. John Philips says, “They had never wanted him there from day one.” So Paul breaks his neck to get these ungrateful Jews a love offering from the Gentiles and they don’t even say THANK YOU. James sets him up and then he and the church make no effort to get Paul released. Not a single one of them comes to his defense. It is an unbelievable situation.

A full fledged Calvinist would rip his robe at this blog, but like John Philips I believe that we humans can make mistakes that change the course of our lives. I also believe that God has the ability to make all things work together for good. In a way, it is a sad story. From day one Paul wanted to be loved by the Jerusalem church but they never accepted him. They loved Peter and prayed him out of jail but no such prayer meetings are recorded for Paul’s release. Paul thought he wanted to die in Jerusalem like Jesus but when he saw the hate of the Jewish mob, it did something to him and he never longed for Jerusalem again.

What are you and I hanging on to that we need to let go? What is our Jerusalem?

Extra

The 47* with no wind was fine but I like to have frozen yesterday. I went out without a coat and I got cold and couldn’t get warm. I am wearing a coat today. June loves her electric blanket and lately, I have loved it too. Nothing more pleasant that a good electric blanket on a cold night.

December will do exactly what the other months have done–fly by like a jet. Grace Pointers don’t forget, the 49er Christmas is Friday. Our church wide Christmas meal is Sunday December 14 and our Christmas Program in December 17. Christmas Eve communion is at 4:00 pm.

I hope you have a good day. Stay warm! Better still, stay in if you can. Thanks for reading the blog.