faithfulness

When you hear the word faithfulness unfortunately in today's climate many people think of marriages. But the version of faithfulness I want to share with you today is of courage, strength and passion to share the Gospel. Paul was on his third missionary journey and he talks directly to his followers and the leaders who are along with him on his journey.
He had been in Ephesus for a long, long time and now he was ready to move on. He shares with all of he elders a little bit about himself, his goals and then tells them this will be the last time they see him. Can you imagine that? Telling your friends and colleagues that you are going to share teh Gospel and you won't be back, you won't survive it? What would they say? How would they react?
Well, in today's world they would first probably laugh a little because we don't face that type of persecusion here in the United States. But, if you were going somewhere that does, would you go all out? Paul did just that, and he went on faithful to exactly what God was calling him to do.
Acts 20:22 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 woth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the taks the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Paul admits that he is not going of his own strength or even his own choice. He is compelled by God to go through the Holy Spirit. He's going there not knowing what will happen, it may finally mean death for him, or permanent imprisonment he doesn't know. All he knows is that it will not be good, but, this is a warning he apparently has faced each time he has followed God. Then he says he considers his life nothing, all he wants to do is be faithful to what God has called him to be.
Think about that, faithful to death, faithful to share the gospel no matter what comes his way. We can't even find people willing to choose church over football right now. We have people doing everything but being faithful to God, while their faith to their favorite team is unwavering. If we can't find people to choose attending church over sporting events, then we will never find people to choose persecution for sharing the Gospel. No wonder we are losing the battle against the unchurched.
Examine your own life, your values and ask yourself are you faithful to God's plan for you, and are you finishing the race?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!