None of These Things Move Me...

The Apostle Paul was convinced that in every city where he preached that prison and hardships would be waiting. You can read the account of it in Acts 20. In verse 24, however, we read his courageous response: "None of these things move me..." The Apostle of Grace had a singleness of vision. He would finish his course with joy and the ministry which he received from Jesus.

Who would have thought that the ministry of grace would be so challenging? Or that Good News would not be welcome news? But this is exactly what the Apostle Paul encountered at every turn. He faced dangers, hardships, imprisonment, and punishment. Eventually the ministry of grace would cost him his life. And, yet, he never wavered. He continued to press toward this high calling. Resolving in his heart each and every day that none of the difficulties would move him from what he believed the Lord was doing in his life. Have you ever been there? Ever had to make this kind of decision? Have you ever had to trust what the Lord was doing in you rather than be moved by the opinion of others?

I see men and women today who have this same resolve. Pastors and Teachers who have chosen to live out the ministry of grace even though grace seems to be a volatile subject these days. Worship leaders who are mining the depths of God's grace through music and song. They have proudly wore the label of grace. They are carrying the Good News courageously. Some have lost their ministry (or at least the one they had). Many of them have lost life long friends. But they move forward. They trust in the goodness of God. They refuse to be moved by the naysayers. They cannot un-experience Jesus, un-learn what they have learned, or un-see what they have seen.

Having resolve doesn't make it easier.
Being firm in your commitment to the Lord and this ministry doesn't impress the critics.
However, what it does in you is phenomenal. It reminds you of what He has already done in your life. It keeps the goodness of God before you. And it allows you to look past the negativity you will experience.

For Paul the Damascus road was more than an experience. The revelation he received from the Lord was more than a sermon series. He knew that he had tapped into the mystery of the gospel that had been hidden for generations. He spoke of things that happened before the foundation of the world. He worked hard to separate the New Covenant from the Old. He honored those who walked before him but refused to allow this newly founded faith to be wrapped up in the passing ways of the Law.

The cost was great. The majority of all the Apostles died a martyrs death. But they would not be moved. They did not count their life as dear to themselves. They gave themselves to the spread of the Gospel, the formation of the Church, and the advancement of the Kingdom. I say all of this so that we appreciate what we have freely received. That we enjoy fully the grace of God that has been extended to us. So we will in turn give ourselves to the sharing of this amazingly beautiful message.

May the grace of God have its perfect work in us. May we know the fullness of His grace each and every day of our lives. Enjoy the journey.