Our scripture this morning is Acts of the Apostles 20:21-24.
I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Paul preached the same message everywhere he went – “the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus”. He taught and mentored in far away parts of the Roman Empire but now he is “bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem” where he has been told that opposition awaits. Just as “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), Paul goes where he is led by the Holy Spirit.
Has the Holy Spirit ever led you to a difficult place? It might not have been a destination, perhaps it was a situation you had to confront. Whatever our circumstances, we are sometimes called to endure conflict for the sake of our Lord.
However, Paul gives us the strongest motivation to engage these difficulties, saying “my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus”. God calls us to go where we are needed regardless of the trials we may encounter. We are sent to use our gifts that all the world might know His love and mercy.
Gracious God, we are thankful for the blessing of being part of Your kingdom work. Help us to go in Your name, sharing the gift of salvation with all Your children. Amen.
