Acts 20:24. 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.
God has set you apart for something profoundly significant. You are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). You have been uniquely made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and created only a little lower than the heavenly beings (Psalm 8:5).
God has given humanity His authority and power to be fruitful, increase in number, and rule over all things He made (Genesis 1:28). Although sin and the influence of Satan took this original blessing away, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to restore it within you. With your new identity in Christ, God wants you to extend His glory and make His name known all over the world.
You matter deeply to God, and you must find your true significance in Him alone.
Because we are significant to God, there is a deep purpose in the task He has given us to do, which is to tell people the gospel of His grace. This work is so important that Paul did not even value his own life as long as he could finish the race and the ministry he received from the Lord (Acts 20:24).
To carry out such a task, we must follow the example of Jesus: very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where He prayed (Mark 1:35). Since the task the Father had given the Son was so significant, Jesus devoted Himself to prayer at all times, seeking strength and guidance from the Father.
Prayer is our only way to carry out God’s plans in our lives. Satan fears those who pray and will try everything in his power to keep us from this communion, as he did when the prince of Persia resisted the answer to Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 10:13). However, when you decide to seek wisdom and remain humble before God, He will listen to your prayer and send His heavenly assistance.
When you pray, you must let the Word of God guide you. Scripture instructs us to be strong and courageous, being careful to obey all the law and not turning from it to the right or to the left (Joshua 1:8). By keeping the Word always on our lips and meditating on it day and night, we will find true prosperity and success in our mission. Do not let your own standards or thoughts get in the way, as our own perspectives often lead us astray from the Word. Receive it with an obedient heart, willing to do everything God commands.
Let the Word dominate your mind day and night. This is the key to finishing the task God has given you. We have been charged with proclaiming the gospel in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead. In view of His appearing and His kingdom, we must always be ready to correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful teaching (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
As we continue to live as evangelists, God will bring us reliable people who are qualified to teach others. These are the individuals God prepared long ago. We equip them by testifying of Christ, using all wisdom to counsel and teach every person so they may grow spiritually mature. To this end, we must work and struggle with the strength that Christ gives us, which is actively at work in our lives (Colossians 1:28-29).
Through this process, the gospel will continue to spread in power. God has blessed you with the people He has entrusted to your care. Through prayer and the Word, to discover His absolute plans for each individual. You will begin to see the significance of their lives in God’s sight, and He will give you a life-saving message tailored to them.
Remember that nothing is more significant than saving a life. Jesus asked what good it is for someone to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit their very self (Luke 9:25). Every soul is worth more than the entire world’s wealth.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the significant task You have given me. Help me to devote myself to prayer, the Word, and the work of making disciples. I desire to live a life that reflects Your glory and fulfills Your calling. May I remain humble before You and rely entirely on the strength that Christ provides. In Jesus’ name, Amen.