And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:22-24
Paul’s words, “but none of these things move me” are not the apathetic words of one who does not care about anything. No, Paul care deeply but his priority care was not about himself, his hopes, and dreams, or even his own life. His chief concern was to be the man God called him to be and do the things God called him to do. He cared about that more than what people thought of him or even whether he lived or died. I wonder whether my devotion to God is truly that resolute. You?
Note the first of three ways Paul spoke of his devotion to following and serving God.
He wanted to finish the race. The Christian life is a race. Too many think of being born again as the finish line, but that is only the beginning. We run the race for the rest of our lives. It is a long distance race, not a short sprint. The race is fraught with ups and downs, triumphs and trials, great hopes and sometimes deep despair. But we must continue to run until we cross the finish line at the moment of our deaths and enter the presence of the Lord. Only then will the struggle against the world, the flesh, the devil, and with our sin be forever behind us. Though Paul doesn’t explicitly say that he wanted to finish the race strongly, I believe that is implied.
Age and/or the loss of physical strength may disallow us to run in the same ways we ran when younger. Let us strive earnestly to finish well spiritually, even if not physically. Let us cultivate hearts and minds of love, joy [Paul does mention joy], peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23). May these be what define us so that we are more like Christ when we finish the race than when we began.
When that happens, we can follow and serve the Lord in many ways, if our physical and even mental strength diminish as we continue to worship, pray, and bless people.
Whether we die in our prime or at the end of a long and tiring race, let us finish well.
The second of three, Paul wanted to serve in the ministry, next time.