“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)
These are the words of a man who turned a city upside-down. That man was Paul and that city was Ephesus. In under three years, his life impacted the lives of thousands (Acts 19). But how? By abandoning his life to Jesus Christ and to the preaching of His gospel to all peoples.
We haven an infinitely powerful message
Paul sums up his ministry in one word: testify. Paul’s ministry was to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. The church has been given this same ministry: testify. This message, this gospel, this grace, prevailed in the city of Ephesus. It turned sinners away from sin and dethroned false gods, stripping them of their so-called magnificence (Acts 19:26-27). It was the Word of God that prevailed mightily (Acts 19:20). It was the Lord Jesus who added to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). It was His name that was being extolled (Acts 19:17).
We have an infinitely powerful message.
We have an infinitely joyful course
Paul’s ministry to testify took place wherever he was sent. This was his course, to follow the will of His Lord and Savior. From the very beginning Jesus called His disciples to follow Him (Matthew 4:19). But He also commanded them to go. Our course is both. To follow Jesus is to go for Jesus.
This course costs us what is most precious to us (Luke 9:57-62), constrains us to go to those who need to hear the gospel (Romans 15:20), and compels us by the sacrificial and saving love of God (2 Corinthians 5:14). For the church of Jesus Christ, there are no regrets in running this way.
We have an infinitely joyful course.
We have an infinitely glorious Lord
Paul considered His life to be valuable in so far as he finished his course and ministry. He derived his value from nothing else. As a result, his life was more breathtaking than the temple of Artemis and his simple, total devotion to Christ was more convincing than all the worship offered to her.
His abandonment was non-negotiable: “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:13-14) Like Paul, we must be persuaded AGAINST keeping our lives. When we are, Jesus Christ is revealed, proclaimed, and magnified.
Lives are transformed and cities are changed all because we have an infinitely glorious Lord.
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