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1/20 Reading Portions: Genesis 21; Matthew 20; Nehemiah 10; Acts 20
Acts 20:24
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,
if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
FINISH
The precious apostle could not make such a statement to the elders of Ephesus had not Christ done so first. The patriarchs, too, who lived before Christ, could only make such a statement because our sovereign God ministered to them and through them to reflect prophetically the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was constantly laying down His life for His sheep to finish the course and ministry He received from the heavenly Father, thus testifying of the gospel of God’s grace. Take note of this: Jesus did not say, “I will lay down My life for the sheep,” in future tense, implying only the work of the cross. Instead, the Lord Jesus said, “I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15), present tense. It was something He constantly and continually did during His earthly ministry— from the waters of baptism in the Jordan River to the wrath of God he suffered on the cross at Jerusalem. By Himself, apart from the Father’s glory in coming (Christ’s mission), and in His every thought, word, and deed while upon the planet (Christ’s ministry), the Lord Jesus esteemed His life of no value except to testify of the gospel of God’s grace. Jesus said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord.” John 5:19
And again,
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught Me.” John 8:28
When we are lifting up the gospel truth of Christ crucified, esteeming its majesty and power in our hearts as the most important truth in the universe, we may begin ministering like Paul, and Lord willing, start becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ so we can minister like Him (Rom 12:1). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Our lives exist so we can point
To our Lord Jesus Christ;
And by God’s grace, He will anoint
Us as a sacrifice.