“What are you doing?”

Acts 21:10-14, While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

Jesus set his face towards the cross and had to rebuke Peter who, along with all the other disciples, could not understand what he was about to do and why. Certainly Paul is put to the test with previous prophecy telling of his walk to Jerusalem ending in prison. While he is touched by those seeking his temporal welfare, he is strengthened by the Holy Spirit to continue on even if it means prison and ultimately death, which it did. He had a clear picture of the will of the Lord and had made up his mind to do all that was asked of him, to run the race and finish well! Are we able to submit as well to the will of the Lord?

Give us the courage of Paul, and the power of your Holy Spirit to run the race set before us, and to finish well in your eyes!

ESV Lectionary