Finishing Your Purpose

Verses 18-24 of Acts 20 is a life passage for me. They really sum up what I would love to say whenever I am done with ministry. There are several great things that Paul was able to say with integrity about this ministry in Ephesus before he left. He overcame hard times. He had the courage to speak everything that was necessary. He taught anywhere and everywhere. He preached the gospel. He was led by the Holy Spirit. He knew it was going o be hard but he kept going. But what I love most about this passage is how it starts and ends. I think it is the key to completing what God calls me to do.

 

First, he says in verse 19, “Serving the Lord with ALL HUMILITY.”

Last, he says in verse 24, “I do not consider my life as any account dear to myself.”

 

Paul was a great example of humility. His understanding that his life was not his life made everything that God wanted to do through him possible. I think he knew this as well. In verse 24 he says “SO THAT” he may complete what God called him to do. His pursuit of emptiness and true humility was the path for God to use him as much as possible.

 

I need to pursue humility if I truly want to be used by God as much as possible. Humility is like a precious jewel that is so hard to find. It takes much digging and searching and struggling to find it. I think that from looking at Paul’s life, a humble heart is the biggest platform God can have in me to glorify as greatly as possible. I want to be like Paul, someone who really doesn’t count my life as dear to me but dear to God. I will pursue it by praying for it and taking every opportunity I can to embrace humility. I will seek to not put my self in situations where I can be honored but will point people to glorify God for what He is doing. I need to be more humble.

 

Father, remove from me every form of pride.