Contagious Faith...

 "So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, 

saying, 'The will of the Lord be done.' " 

Acts 21:14

     A prophecy was declared, Paul would be bound in Jerusalem for the sake of the gospel. In love, Paul's friends were pleading with him not to go to Jerusalem. In desire for his comfort and their own, they wanted Paul to remain. Im sure they even thought, for the betterment of the Kingdom, he could do more if he was kept out of chains. Yet in hearing all these things, Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem. His mind was set, his heart fixed, he was not going to be swayed by their petitions. 

Did Paul desire to be imprisoned? Why was he so set to go to Jerusalem even after a prophecy seemed to come as a warning of what was to happen to him?

I am convinced that Paul lived upon a deep understanding of God's sovereignty in his life. He was confident that nothing ever could happen to him apart by God's loving design. He was assured that God only gives good things. This "good" not to be defined by carnal mind, but through faith. 

Paul was fixed. He was not going to be moved.

This definite boldness not only honored God as a man truly living what he preached, "To live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21), but it caused a beautiful surrender in the lives of those onlooking. 

Read the verse again…when Paul would not be persuaded, "we" all onlooking witnesses to his life and ministry, ceased trying to persuade him, and instead surrendered unto the LORD, saying, "The will of the Lord be done".

Paul's confident faith produced confident faith in the lives of those around him.

When we choose to walk out a life of faith, confident in the God we know, the God we love, and are willing to go where He calls us to go despite the fears, we become witnesses to those around us. Our obedience to Christ, can lead others to obedient surrender as well. 

One candle burning, can light another.