Compelled by the Spirit
Acts 20:22-27 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 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.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Acts 20:36-38 36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.
For those who have been in churches where the same pastor has led the congregation for years, you can appreciate more fully Paul’s announcement that he was leaving and they would never see his face again. We often form close ties with those who lead our churches, and their absence leaves us heartbroken and despondent.
But Paul knew that his focus had to be on fulfilling the mission for which he had been called, that is to preach Jesus and Him crucified for our sins and resurrected into eternal life. There was no other pursuit that could supercede God’s direction for his life.
When we give ourselves completely to God, there is a peace that settles upon us that defies human emotions. The transformational power of salvation is only the beginning and Paul recognized that his life was no longer his own.
May we be willing to give our lives in service to others and fully commit to supporting those who have been called to lead us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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