Title: My Run / Acts 20:17-24
content the way
Acts 20:17-24, 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
'All humility and tears' (19).
It's like seeing people. When we look at others with God-fearing faith, we see the image of God in them, not by their outward appearance. So, the heart that everyone respects is humility. It's just that I'm nothing, what I've done is nothing. That is not humility. Rather, it is very humble to confess, 'I was able to do this by the grace of the Lord' with a heart of reverence for God. It is humility to confess that what I am is the grace of God. Belief that sees others with their soul, not their outward appearance.
Any humble worker sheds many tears when he works hard. Weeping because of strength, weeping in gratitude for victory during a test, weeping in gratitude for a mission accomplished over hardships, weeping because of the reward, and sometimes weeping because we are sorry for not being able to fulfill our mission properly. .
Today is a time when tears are dry. It's an era of emotion. It is an era full of violence. Even the Christians were weeping. Perhaps it is because the tears of Christians have dried up, and this country is becoming such a parched country. Christians neglect to pray. So my tears dried up. How is it appropriate for Christians to say, 'I hate to pray', 'I am bothered to pray', and 'I have no time to pray'? How shameful are you? Let's be praying saints. Prayer is dying. There are many beliefs that have turned their backs on God. So churches are dying. Faith is dying. Christians are the people who should weep for the country, weep for the age, and weep for our souls. When prayer is dead, when will you cry? Business, family, children, future, if we who believe in God pray, why won't the road be opened? If you cry before God, why not? I believe that God will reach out to us if we truly humbly kneel and weep. It was called humility and tears. It is said that this was done out of reverence and prayer.
It is said that 'we endured temptation and served the Lord' (19).
Paul says that the reason why the apostle Paul fulfilled the mission the Lord entrusted to him well in Ephesus was because he endured trials and served the Lord. Serving the Lord always comes with tests. Tests come because Satan hates me, tests come because of my laziness, tests come because of jealous people, tests come because of hardships, tests come because there is no one to recognize me, tests come because of my weak faith... Serving goes much the same way as enduring temptation.
It's not just belief. My determination seems to pierce the sky, but the reason I can't keep it is because I can't overcome the test of my heart. I want to play, I want to eat, I want to sleep, I want to have, I can't overcome my desires. A person who achieves work always perseveres and overcomes trials.
The process of carrying out the mission of the Apostle Paul was also the process of enduring trials. For the apostle Paul, the process of doing the Lord's work itself was a series of trials and tribulations.
He was beaten five times by the Jews forty minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, and I spent a day and a night in the deep sea.
He traveled many times, in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from his own people, in danger from strangers, in danger in the city,
Perils in the wilderness, perils at sea, perils among false brethren, and toil and toil,
Many times I could not sleep, I was hungry and thirsty, many times I was hungry and cold and naked. 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
As I read these words, my eyes gradually became red. And these words came to my mind.
'Apostle Paul, why did you do that? It would have been easier if I just stayed as a Pharisee. You may also have Roman citizenship. there will be money Why did a person who lacked fame, status, and knowledge go through such hardships on his own? You did well though. It must have been unavoidable because the Lord called it, and he used that knowledge, passion, and power to save countless souls, and still impresses us. Now, who would have known the Apostle Paul? He may have only remembered that he was a naughty man named Saul, who martyred Stephen. Well done. But when you were hungry, thirsty, cold, and naked at that time, how difficult was it...!'
Dear saints, the gospel that has come to us is the result of the lives, tears, and hard work of so many people coming down together. Go to that missionary cemetery. Go to the grave of a young infant. How could a young missionary come and have something to do with us in this foreign land and have such hardships? Is the gospel really precious? Are we really grateful for this 'believing in Jesus' that we have received? The more we do it, the more we should not forget the hard work and service of those who have shared the gospel with us. And we, too, should happily go down that path of service.
The 30th anniversary of our church is not just a passing year. These are the years that have been passed down by the grace of God. These are the years that have led to the prayers, hard work, and devotion of the saints. God, who had asked the people who crossed the Jordan River to build a monument to the land of Canaan, has also made us erect a monument this time. We use our small strength to build a memorial church and to build a difficult church. This will be our monument.
All of you, I hope that all of you will be happy to participate in the erection of this monument as if you took twelve stones to build it. I hope you will be happy to participate in God's great and great work. May your stones of faith be piled up there.
I do not value life in the least (24).
It is a confession that we have run the path God has entrusted to us with a passionate sense of duty and will continue to run in the future.
To finish my course and the mission I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace,
Even my life is of no value to me.
When there is a sense of calling that we have been called by God, this sense of duty is manifested. Because of this sense of duty, I was able to preach the gospel without hesitation in front of anyone (20-21).
Life is precious. Because it is God-given. There is an old saying that life is ?? In fact, none of us are born to want to be born, and none of us live to live. To live is to live because it is a command of God. That is why we cannot commit suicide even when we are in pain because it is God's command to live. Therefore, to live our life according to the will of God, the master, is to live according to that command, and to become the most beautiful life. That is why Paul said that he would give his life according to that command. It is a beautiful thing indeed.
When the Apostle Paul said, 'I do not value my life at all', it does not mean that my life is not worthwhile. All life is more precious than the world. Because life is given by God. However, it is a confession of the mission to give generously for God's work with that precious and irreplaceable thing. The Apostle Paul truly lived a great life. He is a man who has gone his own way.
Brothers and sisters, you too are actually running your life in a time that never stops. In which direction are you running? For what purpose and for what mission are you running? What kind of people are you carrying in your life? As we listen to the words of the Apostle Paul giving his final farewell sermon to the Ephesians, I bless it as an opportunity to reflect on what kind of life we are and how we will live today.
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