But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy…..Acts 20:24
The apostle Paul did indeed finish his course with joy, according to his testimony in
2Ti. 4:7. Two reasons given in today’s verse were that he did not count his life dear unto himself, and he did not let his circumstances move him away from his resolve. As we read 2Cor. 11:23-33 we realize how greatly his resolve was tested, yet he was able to keep the faith. He did not do this through will power; he furnished the will, and God furnished the power. He said in Phl. 4:13, “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me”. No matter what God allowed to happen to Paul, there was sufficient strength to go through it victoriously. As we consider what Paul endured for the gospel, do any of us have any excuse for failure? And we cannot use our flesh for an excuse. Paul wrote in Gal. 2:20,
“The life which I now live in the FLESH I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. His confidence was not in HIS power to rise above his flesh, but confidence that Jesus living in him would enable him to “keep under my body, and bring it into subjection”. 1Co. 9:27. So how can we not count our life dear? By remembering Phl. 1:27, “For to me to live is Christ…”. God’s program has to be the most important. Everything else has to be second. One reason God allowed Paul to go through such severe testings was to leave us such a wonderful example to follow, showing us that we can be victorious in any situation. Paul did not only TALK the walk, he WALKED the walk. Let us likewise leave this example for others looking on, showing them that God is the most important thing in our life, and that there is no excuse for failure. God has made every provision so that we, with the songwriter, can say, “I shall not be moved”. Yes
