16 October | EVERYONE
«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.» Acts 20: 24
What to do in the face of life’s storms? Face them despite the risks, or run for your life? On his third missionary journey, Paul stopped in Miletus. From there he asked the leaders of the church in Ephesus to meet with him, and then he gave them his last message before leaving for Jerusalem, where he would eventually be imprisoned and sent to Rome to be tried.
Paul knew the dangers that awaited him in Jerusalem. Religious leaders accused him of undermining the foundations of Judaism and were willing to take strong measures to silence him. In this context, the apostle declares that he is not so much concerned with saving his life as with a joyful completion of his Christian career, and in fulfilling the mission that God has entrusted to him.
It does not mean that Paul did not care about his life. He knew that life is a precious gift that deserves to be cared for to honor and glorify God. The lesson he teaches us here is that the way of the Christian is a path full of difficulties and inconveniences, of dangers and threats. It is not easy to finish the race or fulfill the mission, but these dangers should not be an excuse to escape from responsibility. What others are willing to do with you or against you is no argument for running away or hiding.
There is no better prescription for a peaceful sleep than the satisfaction of duty done and sleeping confident in the protecting power of Christ’s love. Stormy winds can blow outside. The storm can be threatening. People may run in terror, but you know in whom you have believed, where you have come from, and where you are going. You know the divine promises, and you know that even if you go through the fire, you will not be burned, and if you go through the waters, you will not drown, because God is with you.
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With the assurance of God’s power, do not hesitate to overcome obstacles to fulfill the mission you feel the Lord has assigned you. Peace in your life will be the fruit of that trust that makes you immune to adverse circumstances.