January 14th

❀ ❁ January 14^th ❀ ❁

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." Acts 20:24, NIV

 

"You may be the only Bible someone reads." This is an oft-repeated statement (and warning) to Christians. This certainly puts life in perspective. What does it mean, to consider one's life "worth nothing?"

 

Acts of the Apostles is a book of Scripture that exclusively details the early church, the Apostles' ministry and that of Paul of Tarsus. The verse above Paul speaks to the church elders, everyone knowing they would not see Paul again. Paul is willing to sacrifice everything in order to evangelize. He puts being holy as his ultimate goal and his parting words to others are to share his experiences and to give them warning and instructions. Paul values his service to the LORD beyond any care for himself. He is untiring in his evangelism. It is a sobering section of Scripture.

 

How do we take this caveat ourselves and apply it? For a start, what does the Gospel mean to us? Is it something that holds really meaning in our lives, or is it something we now take for granted? Are we willing to give everything to God? Are we tireless in our efforts? Is our first goal to be holy, or is it to have a better material life? Making being a saint the highest priority should be our life's work. Being a saint means to die to oneself in order to be submissive to the will of the LORD. To walk with Christ means to trust Him enough to understand that our mortal lives are finite; His ultimate plan for us is far greater. This should be the idea in our minds in every interaction with others. Putting God first, and loving others, requires us to treat every relationships as sharing the Gospel.

 

When we snap at the waitress, she will notice the cross necklace. When we lash out at the car that just cut us off, the driver will remember the fish symbol on our bumper. Conversely, when we show love and patience to others, we are demonstrating Christ's love. When we show joy in a hard situation, we illustrate our hope in Jesus. When we say a quick prayer and swallow unkind words when our husbands are being unreasonable, we are plants the seeds of faith to him. With every act, we can set the stage for others to know a better and a truer Christianity than what they think they know, an authentic faith. And in dying to ourselves, to our pride, and to our egos, we bring to life joy and redemption.

 

Pray for grace to see how you can live this verse to the fullest.

 

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your day with the goal of "testifying to the good news of God's grace."