Homiletic Monthly Acts 21:13-14 Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only… I. DEATH DETACHES A MAN FROM DEPENDING ON WHAT IS MATERIAL. He who is dependent on business, home, pleasures, etc., is not ready to die. For if these are all to him, all will go from him. Jesus delivers us from the spell of materialism. 1. He makes matter itself a parable of the spiritual. 2. He gives us spiritual views and attachments that are more to us than any matter yields. Love, duty, heaven. II. DEATH INVOLVES AN EXPERIENCE OF UTTER LONELINESS. Can we endure that? Can we in bearing our sorrows, holding our convictions, spending many epochs of our life, stand alone. If not, we are not ready to die. Jesus, by His example and spirit, teaches us to say, "I am alone, yet not alone." Learning that, we are ready to die. III. DEATH BRINGS US INTO THE MOST VIVID REALISATION OF GOD'S PRESENCE. Do we dread that? or has Jesus taught us to say, "Our Father"? If so we can say, I am ready to die. (Homiletic Monthly.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. |
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