Our Value package will Change

Acts 20: 17-27

How often we read something in Scripture and if we stop and ponder on what we read it becomes clear that we still have a way to go in the understanding of those truths.  Love is beyond my understanding, that God so loved you and me that He asked His Son, His only Son to step out of being worshipped as Creator God and take on flesh and become lower than the angels that He created.  I am so glad that God does not require understanding to enter into fellowship with Him, just faith that He tells the truth.  So with that confession, shall we enter the deep waters of believing without yet understanding, and to you who have been blessed with a deeper faith, please pray for many of us who by faith in a big God are saying, Lord, show me how to finish my course.

Paul has called the elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him, and this is what he shared: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.”  (Acts 20:18-23 ESV)  How many of you are signing up for that mission trip? 

As I read the next verse it became clear to this writer that I’ve got a long way to go before I can understand these words, and most of you who are reading this are in the same boat with me.  “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 ESV)  Reading this it became apparent that I do account my life of value, but the answer that is very convicting is to whom?  Paul’s life was of great value to our Lord as is yours; in fact, God demonstrated His love for us in that He paid our debt payment for sin.  Paul’s life goal was to share Christ with all who he came in contact with, because Christ was not just the center of his life; Christ was his life.

Look at verses 25-27, “And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”  As I finished these verses this thought lingered; what I need is not more knowledge, nor is it understanding, what I need is faith, a faith that is willing to obey, a faith that is trusting that my God is able to part the rivers of life so that I can bring honor and show others the way to my Lord Jesus Christ.  In our church paper I read, Mission Trip to Casa Hogar, Matamoros, Mexico, to finish construction on a dorm at the children’s home.  My first thought was not God send me, but they are killing people right and left in Mexico.  Fear will keep you from doing the will of God, it also will teach you the value you place on self.  If God calls you to go He is able to protect you, but if we allow Jesus to do it all for us, then our value package will change and I will be convinced that Jesus is able to protect me from all harm, but if He chooses not to, I will still trust only in Him.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice