None Of These Things Move Me

In Acts 20: 22-24, we see a vivid account of Paul’s faith. While Paul is in Miletus, he sent for the Ephesian Elders to come and get a pep talk of sorts from him. Paul is fully aware of what lies ahead in his ministry, since God had told him that he would have to “suffer for His name sake.” What is amazing to me is how incredible his faith is:

“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem..” – Acts 20:22

Notice that Paul is BOUND to the Holy Spirit. What a way to live! To be bound is to not be able to separate, which is exactly where we are as Christians. We are full of Him, 100%, never more and never less. Trouble is, we live like we are separate, and we cling to God when we need Him. Not so for Paul, look at what he says next:

“..not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” Acts 20:22-23

He lives and breathes off the very Word of God. Paul does not know what will happen next in his ministry, but he does know what God has told him, and that is sufficient. He had 100% faith in what God had in store for him, and he showed it by how he lived and what he said. Then things get interesting:

“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.

Paul is not bothered by the trails and tribulations he knows he is about to face. He lives for the Lord, and God’s will be done in his life. He understands, like we should, that our lives are not our own. He is in complete control, and if we decide to follow Him, we will finish the race with joy as well! What a way to live, joyful in what God is doing in our lives, in the good or in the bad. What am I doing to live with joy for the Lord? Do I have this much faith, to lay it all down without any question and with Him in complete control. How about you? Do you live bound to Christ? Are you 100% sold out to His cause? I pray that we as a body of Christ could have the faith Paul did. Look through the New Testament at how God changed the world through Paul. He wants to do that through us as well.

Tags: Acts, Christianity, Spiritual Disciplines, Teaching