Hmmmm, My Life or God’s Course?

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Acts 20:24

Staying on God’s course is not always easy and it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.

It demands that we place a greater value on God’s course than our own life.

Are you prepared to do that?

It may be simple to answer yes, but it is tough to stick with it.

In today’s verse, Paul speaks of completing the task the Lord had given him.

He was headed for Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there.

 Nonetheless, we are told he was “…compelled by the Spirit…” to travel there.

Do you have a task from God?

Do you know what it is and have you committed to completing it?

Are you “compelled” by the Spirit of God to complete that task?

We must understand that the enemy of our soul is committed to just the opposite.

Now we know that he is not greater than God (not even close) and that God equips us to complete the task and/or race we are in.

But we must understand that he will resist our efforts and that,

what we accomplish for God will not happen without opposition.

That alone is enough to dissuade some.

Don’t allow the slightest headwind or the roar of the enemy to knock you off course.

Paul says in verse 23 of Acts 20: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”

Paul faced possible prison and hardship in going to the very city that the Spirit of God was compelling him to go to.

How is it that he could continue forward on that journey?

He valued God’s course, God’s task, God’s race greater than his own life.

This from the same man who declared: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

 Are you prepared to lay down your life for Christ?

I am reminded of an old proverb (not found in the bible but it fits here) that

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

Maybe you are not sure about laying down your life for Christ.

Take the first step – step out of your comfort zone – take up your cross today, by laying down your desires and walking in obedience to the Lord.