From my reading in Acts 20:17-38 in the One Year New Testament.
God has given you one life on this earth.
He has given Christians one primary message that will change people’s lives forever. Jesus has given us one mission that is worth giving our lives for. The Apostle Paul explained his message and mission in passionate terms to the Church in Ephesus right before leaving them. First he reminded him of his message…
“I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:20-21
One Message
Paul’s one message should be our one message. The gospel! Those of us called to preach especially should never shrink back from preaching it.
The good news Paul preached included turning from sin, turning to God and having faith in Jesus. If you don’t preach that people must turn from sin and to God then you are preaching a different gospel than Paul.
One Mission
Paul had a specific mission given by God, but I believe we can learn from his passion.
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Paul didn’t care about his own life. What he cared about what fulfilling the mission God gave him.
Are you wholeheartedly pursuing the mission God has given you? If not why not?
Have you been pursuing your own personal mission instead of God’s mission for your life?
Paul was passionate about sharing how everyone they can experience God’s grace! All believers are all to play a role in spreading this gospel to others. Everyone is not called to do what Paul did, but we all should do something!
Life is to short to waste is trying to make life here perfect. It never will be, so why try!
One Life, Make It Count
Paul made his life count! You can feel his passion dripping off these words. His life was lived on purpose. He was even willing to face suffering and death in order to make his life count for Jesus.
I want to encourage you to realize the urgency of this one message and mission, that without Jesus people will spend eternity in Hell. We can make a difference in people’s lives for eternity! Let’s make this one life count!
One message, one mission, one life, make it count!
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