As I am following Paul’s travels in the book of Acts, you start to pick up a sense of urgency in the man.
He has now been arrested numerous times. Flogged a few times. Stoned, and has walked more miles than Forrest Gump. There were ten different plots against Paul to disrupt his ministry (three of them were to kill him… a proper disruption, I’d say!) and yet, he kept going.
In Acts 20, Paul is heading to Jerusalem and calls the leaders of the church of Ephesus to come to him and it is in this meeting that Paul warns them of false teachings and false teachers, again and again. But he also cracks a bit and lets a light shine on his motivations:
“But whether I live or die is not important, for I don’t esteem my life as indispensable. It’s more important for me to fulfill my destiny and to finish the ministry my Lord Jesus has assigned to me, which is to faithfully preach the wonderful news of God’s grace.”
(Acts 20:24 TPT)
My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…
Finish the race and complete the task…
How sad would it be if we completed the race, but never asked God what our task was? If we just lived to get to the next weekend or the next paycheck?
What do you want me to do today, God?
Who do you want me to speak to today, God?
Can I be your hands and feet today, Jesus?
