“Can we play games on the Xbox?”
“Hmmm …ok…, but have you unpacked the dishwasher?”
“I will do it now…!”
(This is not a conversation between my wife and I… just as a side note…)
So I was listening to a podcast where at the end, the participants were asked about their favourite bible verses and Acts 20:24 came up (my life is not my own…) followed by a short discussion, which got stuck in my head.
Paul actually faced much resistance. He suffered quite a bit of pain through his ministry (I am talking burns, cuts and bruises, not just tired feet from walking and a sore throat from talking) so, when he says:
“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)
We can take him on his word. It sounds plausible and believable. It sounds like Paul. Also considering that the verse prior, he calmly states that the Holy Spirit has been warning him in every town and city that ’chains and afflictions are prepared for you’…
Paul knows what is coming, and he still keeps on going.
But today, I read to a second level of understanding in the same verse. Not about giving over everything or about keeping on going, but the implication of his words.
The verse on the mug says:
“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race…”
It’s a good word. A true word. Something to drink your morning coffee by and be motivated to take the on the day… yet the next sentence is the one that got my head spinning.
”….and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me….”
Confession time: I ended last year and started this year in a bit of a funk. So many things did not happen. So many things became tedious and I started questioning many decisions, going back to the “But You Said,” verses and confirmations just to keep me from spiralling into doubt and depression.
But God has been setting this one up for a while, lining up lessons and examples so that today can make sense. You can’t build the wall if the foundation isn’t set… and you can’t build the second floor, if the first floor isn’t straight and level… fixing it later will take twice as long and you will use up three times as many swearwords!
I have been reminded a few times in the last part of the year that I still lack in areas that God gave me clear instructions. It doesn’t matter if you got 90% for the test but when a colleague sits in front of you after a highjacking gone wrong, too afraid to go home after work, and you don’t know what to say, maybe I need to learn a bit more?
So this morning, God asked me: “Did you complete the tasks I gave you?” – not in anger, not even frustrated. Just in love and explanation. It is great that you know how to fly a plane, Your take-off’s are textbook, but I cannot let you go until you also perfected the landings. It is not a punishment, and it is not spite. It is because I love you and care for you and the passengers.
My word for the year: Complete the Task
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
(Colossians 3:23-24)
