Finishing the Race
Daily Reading: Exodus 14, Psalm 64, Acts 20, Proverbs 5
Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Leaders
When the Ephesian elders arrived, Paul said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 20:18-38
There is so much beauty in Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians.
It is never easy to say goodbye, knowing it will probably be forever.
The wisdom that Paul is imparting to the leaders of the church at Ephesus during this final goodbye truly are words that we can all benefit from.
It is inspiring to read Paul’s level of conviction today.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Paul doesn’t know what he is facing, but knows that it will most likely include prison, hardships, and eventually death because of preaching the gospel.
And yet he goes willingly.
“…my aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…”
What would it look like if God’s people all over the world had this heart posture?
What would it look like if followers of Jesus collectively decided that doing the will of the father was more important than our own personal comfort?
More important than our career advancement.
More important than our 401(k).
More important than our personal preferences in all areas of life.
More important than our political affiliations.
What if we were all locked in on first seeking out the task the Lord Jesus has called each of us to, and once discovered, finishing our own race?
Regardless of the hardships we may face.
Paul warns us that there will be countless wolves seeking to devour the flock. People will look to infiltrate the church in order to distort the truth, and use Christianity as a guise for accomplishing their own goals in this world.
I want faith like Paul.
I want to be courageous in my desire to finish the race Jesus has laid before me, and fearless in my pursuit of God’s will on earth, even knowing that it will come with challenges.
There will always be reasons for each of us to want to stay comfortable.
God is calling us out to the tasks he has laid before us.
This year, let’s pursue them like Paul.
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
What tasks do you feel God putting on your heart in this season of life, and what would it look like to fully finish the race?
