“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

The Lord gave Paul a task to do-spread the good news. Jesus called him for this and Paul was obedient. But before this, Paul was one of the people who was persecuting Jesus. Until Jesus appeared to Him and have him instructions, from there, Paul believed and followed. He went from city to city teaching about the grace of God, spreading the good news, doing just what Jesus told him to do. And he was not always well received. The holy spirit warned him that prison and hardships faced him wherever he went (verse 23). That was the only thing he new to expect where ever he went. But not even this stopped him. It was more important to him that he spread the good news, that others learn about the grace of God, than his own life. He was called, he listened, and he obeyed.

It can be so difficult to be obedient. Being obedient means following commands and instructions given to you. In our human nature, let’s be honest, we don’t want to be told what to do, we don’t like it when we’re told what to do. We want to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. This is why we need to seek God more and more, and when He calls us, even MORE. Because first comes the calling-did you listen? And then when you listened-are you obeying? It’s one thing to listen, and it’s another thing to put into action what God spoke to you. All the things that hinder us, the things that burden us, let it go. We can’t move forward and finish the race if we’re hindered and not even running at all. Or if we’re going in the wrong direction. Let’s fix our eyes on the Lord, focus, listen, and go.