Giblet #2
Acts 20:22-24 (New International Version)
22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
As I read through all these Scriptures that I love so much, I'm stuck with how far I am from actualizing them in my own life. I memorized this one in college as a cute little launching pad to catapult me into my future. The more I read this verse, the more I realize how scary it is to utter something this bizarre.
What a mysterious and delerious life it is to live under the compulsion of the Spirit. There's no telling what's coming next. The adventure of the Spirit-compelled life is unpredictable indeed. I love that the Spirit compelled Paul to go somewhere without giving him foggiest clue as to what was coming next. The only known fact in the transition was that there would be some hardships awaiting him. Sounds inviting and exciting. "Wow, God wants me to go over there and he's not telling me why. The only thing He is telling me is that it's not going to be easy. Thanks God. You're the best!"
I love this phrase..."not knowing what will happen to me there." It seems to me that God loves to put people into situations that force these words to come off the tips of their tongues. If you aren't moving toward the "unknown" in your life as a follower of Jesus, you probably aren't following Him. He loves to compell us to do things that are beyond our knowing. It is then and it is there that we have full assurance that we aren't following ourselves.
"I consider my life worth nothing to me..." This boils down the sap of Paul's ministry to a thick, dark syrup. It ties in with the compelling calling of God's Spirit on his life. You will never move into the unnatural and the abnormal unless you understand your calling. Paul knew that nothing mattered to him more than accomplishing God's dream for his life. That dream was articulated at the end of verse 24..."the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." He would rather die than be deprived of this desire.
I frequent this verse all the time. I want to be compelled by the Spirit. I want to move into the unknown. I want to consider my life worth nothing to me compared to the task of letting people know about the graceful God. I hope my "I wants" soon turn into "I wills".
22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
As I read through all these Scriptures that I love so much, I'm stuck with how far I am from actualizing them in my own life. I memorized this one in college as a cute little launching pad to catapult me into my future. The more I read this verse, the more I realize how scary it is to utter something this bizarre.
What a mysterious and delerious life it is to live under the compulsion of the Spirit. There's no telling what's coming next. The adventure of the Spirit-compelled life is unpredictable indeed. I love that the Spirit compelled Paul to go somewhere without giving him foggiest clue as to what was coming next. The only known fact in the transition was that there would be some hardships awaiting him. Sounds inviting and exciting. "Wow, God wants me to go over there and he's not telling me why. The only thing He is telling me is that it's not going to be easy. Thanks God. You're the best!"
I love this phrase..."not knowing what will happen to me there." It seems to me that God loves to put people into situations that force these words to come off the tips of their tongues. If you aren't moving toward the "unknown" in your life as a follower of Jesus, you probably aren't following Him. He loves to compell us to do things that are beyond our knowing. It is then and it is there that we have full assurance that we aren't following ourselves.
"I consider my life worth nothing to me..." This boils down the sap of Paul's ministry to a thick, dark syrup. It ties in with the compelling calling of God's Spirit on his life. You will never move into the unnatural and the abnormal unless you understand your calling. Paul knew that nothing mattered to him more than accomplishing God's dream for his life. That dream was articulated at the end of verse 24..."the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." He would rather die than be deprived of this desire.
I frequent this verse all the time. I want to be compelled by the Spirit. I want to move into the unknown. I want to consider my life worth nothing to me compared to the task of letting people know about the graceful God. I hope my "I wants" soon turn into "I wills".
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