Proverbs 3; Acts 21:1-14

Proverbs 3
This chapter contains a father's instructions. We can think of it as our Heavenly Father's instruction. You are doubly blessed if you have (or had) an earthly father whose instructions matched our Heavenly Father's.

I will list from this chapter the characteristics of a person who heeds God's instructions and the benefits he or she enjoys.

Characteristics & benefits of a person who listens and follows God's instructions:

• Loyal v. 3
• Kind v. 3
• Has a good reputation v. 4, 29-30
• God guides him. v. 5
• Humble v. 7
• Healthy v. 8
• Generous v. 9, 27
• Teachable v. 11
• Joyous v. 13, 18
• Has a long life v. 1 and 16
• Prosperous v.  10 and 16
• Safe v. 23-26
• Sleeps well v. 24
• Has God's blessing v. 33, 34

Don't get hung up by expecting the Proverbs to be promises from the Lord. These are not intended to be promises, but rather they tell us what usually happens. Perhaps the Proverbs are God's way of reminding us to use our good common sense! An obedient person usually enjoys a long and healthy life, etc., but we all know there are exceptions to every rule. For reasons we don't always understand, God sometimes chooses suffering of various kinds for some people. We can trust God and accept this. But it's a terrible thing to suffer as a result of our own rebellious actions.


Acts 21:1-14
Paul is on his way back to Jerusalem. It might be called a farewell journey. He stopped and fellowshipped with and taught a group of believers at Tyre in Syria. They were apparently warned by the Holy Spirit of dangers that Paul would face in Jerusalem, and they discouraged him from going there. However, Paul did go on to Jerusalem. It's a touching scene to imagine the whole congregation, including women and children kneeling and praying with Paul along the shore as they said their good-byes. I think it's important for children to be included in the work and worship of the church.

Paul's next stop was in Ptolemais with believers there and then on to Caesarea at the home of Philip the Evangelist (mentioned in Acts 6 and 8). An interesting note here is that he had four unmarried daughters who were serving the Lord.

Several days later Paul received another warning not to go Jerusalem. vv. 10-12

I love the next two verses which are also touching, but they remind us of the normal human feelings Paul and these people felt. "But he (Paul) said, 'Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.' When it was clear that we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done.'"