Committed to the Lord

The transformation of Paul from a persecutor of the church (Acts 8:3, 9:1-2) to a faithful proclaimer of the gospel (Acts 9:20; Romans 1:16) is an inspiring example for us to pattern our own lives after (1 Corinthians 11:1).  And the more I read from God’s holy word about Paul, the more I learn about the commitment he had and that we as followers of Christ should emulate.

In Acts 20, knowing that chains and tribulations awaited him (vs. 23), he nonetheless stated the following:  “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (vs. 24).  He put the work of the Lord before anything else, even his own safety.  

Furthermore, Paul tells us in his letter to the saints in Philippi, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9).  What a commitment he had to the Lord!

May we look to the example of Paul and learn the type of Christians we ought to be as we live for Jesus, and echo Paul’s words found in Galatians 2:20 where he says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”