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
What is the all surpassing goal of your life? If I were to
ask you, “What one thing do you want to accomplish before you die,” what would
you say? I am sure our answers would vary depending on our backgrounds,
ambitions, and desires. However, there is one way and one way only that we
should answer that question; “that I may finish my course and the ministry that
I received from the Lord Jesus.”
As if this was not a focused enough desire for Paul, he
adds, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself.” Paul
was a man who had completely sold out to the cause of Christ. He had released
all rights and privileges of his life to the purposes of the Lord. Certainly
these things seem extreme to us, but could it be that this is what true
discipleship looks like? After all, Jesus said things like, “For whoever would
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”
(Matthew 16:25). And, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father
and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his
own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). The call to follow Christ IS
extreme.
Take some time today to consider your life. Where does your commitment
level stand? If Christ asked you to take some radical step today, what would
your answer be? Also…What sort of things might happen in our day and land if
Christians begin to live this way? Do you think such an extreme mindset might
impact your community and world? Is the cost of discipleship, when thought of
in these terms, too high? Make it your ambition to “testify to the gospel of
the grace of God.” It is for this cause we have been called.
No comments:
Post a Comment