Acts 20:24 - “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.”
How do I view my life at this point?
Many have reached the apex of their career.
Others have accumulated investments that compound beyond imagination.
Some have power and influence envied by those still climbing to the top.
Yet others feel crushed by burdens, trapped by their past.
Regrets can lead to bitterness and futility.
Resentment can sift into good intentions.
But gratitude is my playbook, thankful for His presence.
My life has been privileged to see blessings beyond what I predicted.
Difficult times could have demoralized and crippled,
Long standing dysfunctional relationships could have wrecked me.
Torpedoes unexpected might have demoralized, leaving me in despair.
But His presence has assured His security, His safety, regardless of the chaos.
Some expect problems and find them with ease,
Others seek Him while He searches for those searching.
Can I take credit for my life?
Is anyone truly self made?
Transformation of character is not self induced.
The inside out process is a mystery of responding to His call to follow, not to lead.
The secret things of God are not to be understood,
He has shown us what we need to know,
It is enough to respond by His wisdom and power.
Understanding the mystery of our decisions matching the opportunities we encounter is impossible.
Who can understand our infinite Creator as He searches the hearts of those who seek Him?
The idols of our age aren’t golden calves but power, certainty, and control. True faith isn’t found in possessing all the answers but in surrendering to the mystery of a God whose love is always larger than our understanding.
Avoid negativity
Victim ology
Entitlement
Calloused to the Soirit
“Paul uses a second phrase in Acts 20:24: “my course.” He says, “Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy. . . .” That word course suggests a race with Paul as one of the runners. Paul often used athletic illustrations in his letters, and this is one of them. No doubt he had often seen the athletic games in various Greek cities, and they suggested to him truths about the Christian life.
No one could compete in the Greek games unless he was a citizen. Well, no one can run in the Christian race unless he is a child of God, a citizen of heaven. When you give your heart to Jesus Christ, He saves you and takes you off that broad road that leads to destruction. He puts you on the narrow road that leads to heaven, and He assigns a track for you on the course. In Philippians 3 and Hebrews 12, God compares the Christian life to a race, and He assigns each Christian runner his own special lane. The important thing is that we obey the rules, keep running for the prize, and stay in the correct lane. ”
“Please don’t measure yourself by some other Christian. Measure yourself by the plan God has for your life, the prize He wants you to win.
One of the worst things a runner can do is keep looking back. Paul writes in Philippians 3, “Forgetting those things which are behind. . . .” Let’s keep our eyes on the goal; let’s be sure we are running in the lane God has assigned to us. Let the Lord take care of the other runners. Jesus says to us as He did to Peter, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”
Paul wanted to finish his course with joy, and he did. We read his words in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” He was looking forward to seeing the Lord Jesus Christ and sharing in that crown of righteousness. The race would soon be over, and the prize of the high calling would soon be his. One day the race will be over for you and for me. Will we be able to say, “I have finished my course with joy”?
”
Excerpt From
Bumps Are What You Climb On
Warren Wiersbe
https://books.apple.com/us/book/bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/id1025051388
This material may be protected by copyright.
Excerpt From
Bumps Are What You Climb On
Warren Wiersbe
https://books.apple.com/us/book/bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/id1025051388
This material may be protected by copyright.
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