But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)
The Apostle Paul was a man that could not be moved. He couldn’t be moved by…
- Future dangers –He was about to go Jerusalem knowing trouble was going to “befall” (Acts 20:22)
- Physical sufferings – Scourged by whips five times, beaten with rods three times, stoned to death, shipwrecked, suffered weariness, watchfulness, and many other things. (II Cor. 11:24-27)
- Rejection by the people of Israel – He loved the Jewish people enough to go to hell for them, but they still rejected him. (Rom. 9:3; 10:1)
- Rejection by fellow laborers – Demas forsook him (II Tim. 4:10); all the saints in Asia turned from him. (II Tim. 4:16)
- A thorn in the flesh – a messenger of Satan “buffeted him” meaning “to beat with the fists.” (II Cor. 12:7)
I imagine if you or I experienced a fraction of Paul’s suffering we would “be moved” by doubt and fear. We would think that we were surely out of the will of God and that God had forsaken us; yet somehow Paul could say, “none of these things move me!” Paul gave three reasons why he couldn’t be moved.
1.) My Life – I counted it not dear unto myself.
Paul gave God his life. Paul gave God an empty chalkboard upon which to write his life’s story. Paul had a background before salvation — he was of pure Hebrew stock, a Roman citizen, a Pharisee, and a ruling member of the Sanhedrin (Phil. 3:5-8). Paul had the best pedigree and education as well as a political/social standing, yet Paul erased his old life, giving the chalk to God. He counted his life not dear unto himself, but he rather handed his life over to God.
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8
Paul traded his old life for knowing Christ, and He was not disappointed! He found life with Christ so much better than his old life that he compared his old life to manure in light of his new life. He said in effect, “whatever God wants to do with my life is fine because I gave my life to Him; my life is His and not mine.” “My life I counted not dear unto myself!”
2.) My Course – I am running my own course.
Paul was running the race that was set before him and no one else’s (“my course,” Acts 20:24). God separated Paul from his mother’s womb and gave him all the equipment that he needed to fulfill the challenges set before him (Gal. 1:15; Eph. 2:10). Paul was not trying to run anyone else’s race or fill anyone else’s shoes. He wasn’t comparing his lot with someone else’s. He had his own custom course to run and his own crown to win. It is your custom race also.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:7-8)
3.) My Ministry – It’s what I am doing.
“…and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul did what God called him to do, and he never held back (Acts 20:20). His ministry, like ours,was the gospel ministry. He never left it or got side tracked from it. He was not moved because he stayed doing what he was called to do.