The Eighth of Ten days

Acts 20:17-27

We must put calling before comfort (vv. 17-38).

In verse 22 Paul shared with the elders that the Spirit was calling him to Jerusalem. Notice what Paul expected to happen, “in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardship await me.” Imagine reading that in a missions recruiting advertisement. The truth is that God never promised us that we would live a life free of risks if we followed him. As a matter of fact, the closer you follow him, often times the greater the risks. But notice Paul’s response, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Paul put God’s call on his life before comfort. His goal was not to live a comfortable risk-free life, but to obey God’s call and finish the task he had been given - even if that meant dying. In 21:13 when Paul was getting ready to depart for Jerusalem, the people pleaded with him not to go. Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am not only ready be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Wow! Paul was willing to lose his life to make Jesus’ name famous in Jerusalem. Calling – not comfort.

What about you? Do you put calling before comfort? If it is your goal to live a risk free comfortable life, you will miss out on the calling God has placed on your life. God may be calling you to join him on mission for a summer, a year, or even for the rest of your life. Yet, maybe there are some fears: Is it safe to travel? Will I like the food? Will I get sick? Will I find a spouse? What will the living conditions be like? Some of you might eventually end up on the field in a country that is hostile to Christianity and you will live everyday with looming risk that threaten your well being or even your life. Throughout history, men and women of God have taken the gospel to the most extreme parts of the planet at great cost. Many lost their children to disease. Some became deathly ill themselves. Others were imprisoned, beaten, even killed as they carried out their calling. As you read their stories, there is not a hint of regret. They gladly put calling before comfort. The reward was greater than the cost and it will be with you as well.

We must hold Jesus Christ and his agenda more dearly than even family and friends (vv. 25, 36-38).

It is obvious from this passage that there was a special love between Paul and the elders at Ephesus. When they heard that they would never see Paul again, they were grieved. The texts says, “They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.” As much as Paul loved these people, he loved Jesus Christ and his purposes more. He was so committed to fulfilling Jesus’ call on his life that we was willing to leave family and friends. This is what Jesus expects from his followers. In Luke 14:26-27 Jesus said, “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother; wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes even more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry you own cross and follow me.” It may be that God calls you not only to a short term trip, but to a life long international journey. God is calling and is going to call many in your generation to buy a one-way ticket to another country and to plant your life there away from family and friends to make Christ known.

We need to take responsibility for the condition of our world (26-27).

In these verses, Paul makes a shocking statement. “I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” What Paul is saying is that he cannot be blamed for anyone being eternally separated from God because he has gone about preaching the gospel to everyone he could. It is true that each person is responsible for making a decision about Christ, but God also teaches us in this passage that we have a responsibility to tell others and we will be held accountable to God as to whether or not we were faithful to that responsibility. We need to take responsibility for the people God has placed in our lives. But we also need to gain a sense of responsibility for our world. We cannot be content with the fact that there are 4x as many lost people in China as there are people in the United States. We cannot be content with the fact that there are over 2000 people groups consisting of over one-quarter of the world’s population that are unreached and have little of no access to the gospel. This world needs people who will stand up and say, “I’ll go and tell those who have not heard. Let that responsibility fall in my lap and with the help of God I will fulfill it.”

Jesus, You are my treasure. Nothing compares to you. There is nothing greater I could ever do than to give myself fully to you and your objective. Intensify my passion for you and your plan for this planet. Give me a heart that is willing to pay any price, forgo any comfort, and wave any farewell to make you known in all the earth. Burden my heart for the neglected harvest fields of the world where your name is not known and your praise is not heard. Shatter my state of contentment with the lost condition of this world. Put in my heart a sense of responsibility for the nations and move me to act upon that responsibility by praying, giving, and going. Do this for your honor and for the joy of the nations. Amen.