“When they arrived he declared,” you know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling others the Good news about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:18-24
In this day and age we have more going on day today than ever before in history. Not only that, but we can’t escape all that we have to do because we are plugged in all the time. There is no down time. We receive emails, texts, snap chats (if you are a teenager), Facebook messages, Instagram updates, and Twitter every minute of the day. Those are just a few ways we are plugged in. The list goes on and on and on. This causes us to be so distracted that we forget that our number one mission in the body of Christ is to spread the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Paul considered his life worth nothing unless it is used for finishing the work he has been given by Jesus. It made me take a long hard look at my life. The days that I am overwhelmed by anxiety are the days I am more focused on me and mine rather than completely focused on the work of spreading the gospel. I am worried about worldly things that don’t matter a bit in eternity. Verse 24 inspired me to continue faithfully serving Christ at all costs and at all times. “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
I feel as though I could have shared verse 24 and just left you with that to pray over and let sink in. Just like Paul our lives are worth nothing unless they are used for the work that Jesus has given us.
Loving and Gracious God, thank You once again for Your words. I pray that each day I don’t waste a minute focusing on worldly thing and instead of kingdom things. My life is worth nothing if not to serve You and Your people. Remind me everyday that I am loved by You and that my mission isn’t to please people, but You. In Jesus Name, Amen.