The Valuable Life
We’re on a mission from God
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But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24 (NET)
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I know that as believers we all have a ministry we’ve received from God.
But Paul literally received a ministry from Jesus.
If you remember, Jesus met him in a vision on the road to Damascus and gave him the calling. And then blinded him (you know, to really let it sink in).
I suppose that’s part of why Paul was so radical in his ministry approach.
Paul went all-out when sharing Christ with the world.
Didn’t matter that people threatened to end him, or beat him, or imprisoned him, or even stoned him alive. He was on a mission from God and nothing was going to get in the way.
In other words, he was sold out for Jesus.
This verse reinforces that.
What would it take for us to be this sold out for Christ?
For one, I’d have to be confident in that eternal perspective. Meaning, I believe with every fiber of my being that what happens to me here on earth is nothing compared to what awaits me in eternity.
I wish I could say that I’m wired that way, but I’m not … yet.
God has more work to do on me.
Second, it does require some training. Paul didn’t get a download of ministry like Neo in the Matrix; he had to spend time in the Scriptures. Then he had to put in the work to share the truth of Scripture and how it all points to Jesus with others.
The right perspective and the right training can make all the difference.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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