God Running is a place for anyone who wants to (or even anyone who wants to want to) love Jesus more deeply, follow Jesus more closely, and love people the way Jesus wants us to.

In our last post from the book of Acts we saw how Paul didn’t journey through life alone. He always surrounded himself with others who followed Jesus closely. If you’re interested you can read more here: “The Power of We”. In today’s post we’ll see how Paul had an opportunity to avoid hardship, and what he did when he was presented with that opportunity.

Acts 21:7-14

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 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.”

The Easy Way vs. the Hard Way

Paul and his brothers’ travels bring them to Caesarea where Philip the evangelist’s four daughters prophesied. (According to Keener, “Despite frequent gender and age prejudice in antiquity, most people did respect prophetesses.”) And while they were there another prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And Agabus acts out his prophecy about the hardships Paul will face if he goes to Jerusalem as planned.

But Paul is resolute in his desire to follow Jesus: wherever Jesus may take him. And Paul’s convinced Jesus is leading him to Jerusalem. So he would not be persuaded. And he continued on his journey.

Maybe you’re like me and you love technology and inventions. There’s nothing wrong with that. But sometimes we can fall into a pattern of trying to make our lives easier without considering what Jesus might want.

All that to say:

Easier is not always better.

If God wills it, the harder path is the better path.

“Father, please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and direct our steps. Keep us mindful of what You want from us and where You want us to go and what You want us to do and how You want us to live. Guide us and direct us. Help us to live wise and good lives in Your sight. And when You desire for us to walk a difficult path, lead us away from the temptation to choose the easy way.

“In Jesus’ name we pray.

“Amen.”

Notes:

Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, IVP Academic; 2nd edition, January 3, 2014, pp. 391-392

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Available on Google Play Books and on Amazon!

Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus)

Love Like Jesus begins with the story of how after a life of regular church attendance and Bible study, Bennett was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. That led to an obsessive seven year deep dive. After pouring over Jesus’ every interaction with another human being, he realized he was doing a much better job of studying Jesus’ words than he was following Jesus’ words and example. The honest and fearless revelations of Bennett’s own moral failures affirm he wrote this book for himself as much as for others. Love Like Jesus examines a variety of stories, examples, and research, including:

• Specific examples of how Jesus communicated God’s love to others.
• How Jesus demonstrated all five of Gary Chapman’s love languages (and how you can too).
• The story of how Billy Graham extended Christ’s extraordinary love and grace toward a man who misrepresented Jesus to millions.
• How to respond to critics the way Jesus did.
• How to love unlovable people the way Jesus did.
• How to survive a life of loving like Jesus (or how not to become a Christian doormat).
• How Jesus didn’t love everyone the same (and why you shouldn’t either).
• How Jesus guarded his heart by taking care of himself–he even napped–and why you should do the same.
• How Jesus loved his betrayer Judas, even to the very end.

With genuine unfiltered honesty, Love Like Jesus, shows you how to live a life according to God’s definition of success: A life of loving God well, and loving the people around you well too.

A life of loving like Jesus. (Kindle, hardcover, and paperback now available on Amazon and the ebook is now available on Google Play Books.)