Walking Through the Word™ Project 2025

July 19, 2025

Acts 21:1–14

The Will of the Lord Be Done

“When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” — Acts 21:14 (NIV)

Paul’s journey to Jerusalem was more than just a physical voyage. It was a spiritual tug-of-war between obedience and concern, between love and purpose, between the urging of friends and the calling of God.

After saying a painful goodbye to the Ephesian elders, Paul continued traveling, stopping to connect with believers in every city. In Tyre, the disciples, moved by the Holy Spirit, told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Then in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus acted out a warning—binding himself with Paul’s belt and declaring that Paul would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles.

Everyone begged Paul not to go. They weren’t being selfish—they were afraid. Their tears were real. But their interpretation was off. God had revealed what would happen, not so Paul would avoid it, but so he’d be prepared for it.

Paul’s response is both human and heroic. “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

The people finally stopped pleading. They released Paul to the only thing greater than their fear: the will of the Lord.

Well-Meaning People Can Misread God’s Will

The people around Paul were filled with the Spirit, but they still misunderstood God’s purpose. They assumed danger meant “don’t go.” But faith doesn’t always avoid suffering. Sometimes, it walks straight into it.

We all have people in our lives who love us, but that doesn’t mean they always understand what God is asking of us. Their advice may come from a place of affection, but not necessarily from a place of faith.

Obedience Means Moving Forward Anyway.

Paul didn’t ignore the warnings—he listened carefully. But he interpreted them differently. He knew suffering lay ahead, but he also knew it was part of his calling.

Obedience sometimes means heading directly toward hard things, not away from them. Faith doesn’t demand a safe route—it simply demands a surrendered heart.

Don’t Let Tears Talk You Out of Truth

The people around Paul were weeping. They loved him. But Paul didn’t allow their emotions to pull him off course. He stayed rooted in what he knew to be true: God had called him forward.

In today’s world, we’re told to avoid discomfort, avoid risk, avoid pain. But the Spirit leads us into places where our comfort zones can’t go. Sometimes we must walk forward with compassion in our hearts and resolve in our steps.

Let your friends cry. Let your heart ache. But let the will of the Lord be done.

Let’s pray:

Lord, give me ears to hear Your voice above the voices of fear, even if they come from people I love. Help me discern between caution and calling. Give me a willing heart to obey, even when the path is costly. May Your will be done in my life, no matter what it takes. In Jesus’ name, amen.