Acts is probably one of my favorite books of the Bible, and the above verse is one of my favorite verses. I read the book of Acts about a year ago, and decided that it is time to start reading it again. I remember being tremendously encouraged as I read through it.
Acts 20:17-38 is a passage in which I find a tremendous amount of encouragement and also find myself amazed by the apostle Paul. He explained how he was being led to go to Jerusalem - he did not know what would happen to him there but he knew that "bonds and afflictions" awaited him. Still, he then said that he did not consider his life dear to himself. This blows me away. I know for me personally it is very difficult to not think about myself. I find myself concerned with my desires, my plans, what works best for me. Yet, Paul was not this way. The calling the Lord had placed on His life was far more important to him than anything else. He fully understood what it meant to be a child of the King and trusted that his life was not his own. He completely entrusted his life to Christ. In chapter 21 verse 13 Paul even says "For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Again we see that he did not consider his life as dear to himself. God's calling on his life and testifying of His grace were of greater importance to him.
There is so much we can learn from the life of Paul! Of course, the Lord has a unique plan and purpose for each and every one of His children. Unlike Paul, we may not be faced with having to die for Jesus, we may not be afflicted in the same way as he was. The question remains, though, are we going to surrender our lives to God's plan and purpose? Will we realize that our life is not our own to live? Or will we hold our lives dear to ourselves?
I am so far from perfect, and every day I am reminded how I am so unwilling to trust in the Lord with certain things. I am so thankful for His grace. I am so thankful for His mercy, which is new every morning. I just love to see Paul's heart for ministry, and how he loved Jesus more than his own life. I know that Paul was a sinner as well - he even said he was the worst of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). I am so thankful that God can use sinners. May we all live to testify of His amazing grace.
