“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.” (Acts 20:24)

Today’s verse is a quote from Paul recorded in a sub-section of Acts titled “Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders.” This one statement made by the apostle embodies his entire view on living for Christ Jesus. The verse describes the Christian life as he sees it. And not only as a testament on how he lives, it also reflected his desire for us all. Paul sets the bar rather high when he says that nothing is more important to him than “testifying to the good news” of the gospel message. I love reading about Paul because his messages and views that he describes are so genuine and raw. He just puts it out there (in writing) because of the confidence the Holy Spirit has deposited in him. And as always, scripture verses like today’s forces us to think in self-reflection and ask ourselves the hard questions. What things in our own lives elevates to a higher importance over spreading the gospel? I can honestly admit the following; I have sleepless nights, there are days when I wake up already frustrated, and there are events that have happen in my life that I wish were different or never happened at all. None of which has anything to do with my abilities, good or bad, to spread the love of Jesus Christ to others. I myself, like many I suppose, can’t make the statement that Paul gives us today. Attesting that nothing is more important, and all other things are meaningless, except promoting Jesus as our King and Savior. Yes the bar is set high, but the same Holy Spirit who enabled the apostles, is in us today. There’s a race for us to run, my prayer is that Jesus is the reason.