Today’s devotion comes from Acts 21:1-14. Here is a link to the full text
We will focus on verses 10 through 14 which are quoted below.
“10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!” Acts 21:10-14.
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The Heidelberg Catechism explains the meaning of “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” in the Lord’s Prayer in Question and Answer 124.
Question 124. Which is the third petition?
Answer. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”; that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good; that so every one may attend to, and perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.”
But, our faith is not in our own willpower to “renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey thy will”. Our faith is in a sovereign God whose “will” will be done, and that God is not only Almighty God, He is our faithful Father.
The Heidelberg Catechism recognizes that faith in Question and Answer 28.
Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things?
Answer. That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.
And that faith comes to us through grace. So, Paul was given that grace to respond as he did in faith when he faced the prophecy of being bound and possible death.
God will also give us all the grace that we need to also respond in faith to the adversity that we face. “Thy will be done”: “we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 