Acts 21:13

THE DAWN OF THE MISSIONARY CALL

‘I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’

Acts 21:13

St. Paul’s conflict of feeling is suggestive of a very noble and comprehensive character. Some have strength and no tenderness; others tenderness and no strength. St. Paul had both: he felt the kindness shown, but he felt still more the constraining power of the missionary call. Notice—

I. Its absorbing power.—The prospect of the work that lay before him absorbed his every interest.

II. Its impelling power.—St. Paul was to go to Jerusalem in fulfilment of his mission. He who had said, ‘Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?’ was not likely to be turned aside through fear of difficulties. He was impelled to go forward, and the power within him was Christ.

III. Its assuring power.—Assurance comes when we are in the line of the Divine will. The Apostle’s calm and confidence are striking. In view of all possibilities, fetters, prison, death, he was composed. We can never go wrong with God as our guide. No trial is too great if we are resting on Him. In view of death itself the Christian has loftiest hopes.

Illustration

‘Mr. George N. Gordon, a native of Prince Edward Island, went out to the New Hebrides under the L.M.S. in 1856, and settled at Erromanga. In 1860 he and his wife were murdered by natives. He had a brother, James Douglas Gordon, who at once resolved to carry on the work in which George N. Gordon fell. He reached Erromanga in 1864, and after a time was murdered as his brother had been.’