PROCLAIM!
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. —Acts 20:20
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
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ —Acts 20:35
God’s Word is to be “preached… taught you publicly and from house to house.” That which is “preached… taught” is to be helpful to others. So, let us consider that! Is that which is being “preached… taught” whether in public or in houses being helpful to others? That was/is the purpose of Paul’s ministry.
Paul also wanted, as his aim in life, “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.” This was the work God had called him to and it is also the work our Lord has called us to. He has called us to be witnesses (Acts 1:8), but witnesses of what? We are to be witnesses “testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” The good news is the gospel—
“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” —I Corinthians 15:2-8
This was more important to Paul than life itself. If he had to die to proclaim the gospel, then so be it. He would still preach and teach the gospel publicly and from house to house. Brothers and sisters, dear fellow followers/disciples of Jesus, may we have that same attitude!
Paul’s life was an example of giving. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Oh, that we would be givers as well— givers of our time, our talents, our treasure and yes, of our very lives. Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus. All for Your honor and glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLX83HbefrI&list=RDFLX83HbefrI&start_radio=1