Acts 20:24 - "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."

Tit 1:3 - "... preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior"

Gal 1:1 - "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)"

 

Paul had a holy desire of attaining and a holy fear of coming short of completing his race with joy.

He laboured so that he would complete the service of God to his generation. And that he might make full proof of his ministry. His life proved that Jesus commanded him to do this ministry.

When Jesus called Paul, He said to Ananias (who had to go and pray for Paul), Acts 9:16, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul does not bemoan his fate that he had to suffer so much. He rather gloried in his suffering. He gladly bore the cross he received from Jesus Christ. He could even say in Gal 6:17, "let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." And at the end of his life he said (2Tim 4:7), "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

He was willing to suffer much because he set his eyes upon the goal which he received from the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps you remember the time when your burden of sin was rolled away and you were washed in the precious Blood of Jesus; you also remember the calling and the burden for lost souls you received from the Lord Jesus after He saved you. You made promises to the Lord at that time and cried to Him to keep you faithful. Consider your life today whether you are still faithful to Him Who called you at the beginning. Has the suffering and shame for Jesus' sake perhaps caused you to become slack? Paul was not like that. He knew who called him and commanded him. And he regarded that call above everything else.

Young person, where is the love you experienced towards Jesus when you were a child? Perhaps today you love cricket, soccer and rugby. You go to great lengths to attend the matches and get the latest news. Jesus delivered you from your sins and misery and called you into His work. But today you treat His precious cleansing Blood as a light thing! Oh that you might be revived before it's too late.

Nobody can fulfill the task Jesus has for you. You must fulfill it. You will be rewarded at the end whether you were faithful to the task Jesus has called you to. It doesn't matter whether people love or hate you for it. The point is, are you fulfilling God's ministry and the call you received from the Lord Jesus?

You must work in His strength. To Him you will have to give account. He will on Judgement Day call to remembrance the task He has given to you and you will have to give account to Him.

It will be a terrible day when it's the end of your life on earth and you only realise then that you have wasted your time and left your calling unfulfilled.

Arise out of your lukewarm state and from among those who are lukewarm before Jesus vomit you out of His mouth (Rev 3:16).

This word ought to strengthen and revive us to do the first works when Jesus saved us (Rev 2:5).