Paul was unstoppable in his mission. He with great determination spread the gospel throughout the lands in Asia and Europe. During all his journeys he faced great opposition, beatings, stoning, and even was shipwrecked. Many of us would have either stopped or even proclaimed that surely God would not allow such trials in our life. But why wouldn’t He? To submit to Jesus Christ means we are willing to face the trials He faced. Wouldn’t the very passion to know Him fully demand that we be willing to imitate Him in everything? His love both for the Father and for the sinner drove His passion so that He willingly paid the full penalty of sin for all who would come to Him for Salvation. That kind of passion and love for the lost would drive us to know fearless faith whatever the cost.
If only we love as He loved. Submitting to His will. Trusting God, no matter what.
So, what is your mission? Does your heart burn with a love for the lost? When you walk through a crowd or even when you listen to the news, does your heart break for those who don’t know Christ? Or have you grown cold, insensitive to this? After all, doesn’t society tell you to worry about yourself only? Yet, Paul pleaded and prayed that we are To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Filled with all the fulness of God. To know the true heighth, depth, length, and width of that kind of love, overflowing with joy, hope, and desire that others might experience the power of walking hand in hand with God.
Fearless Faith Whatever the Cost
Paul suffered great persecution wherever he went; yet he marched on yielding to the Holy Spirit. His vision was that of a United Body. The Church made up of all believers from all backgrounds, united by God as one. Some were willing to accept that Jesus was the Messiah; but to accept the Gentiles? Well they weren’t going to! Pride stood in the way, the same as it had throughout the Old Testament. It was pride and self-exaltation that blinded their eyes to the truth of the gospel message. Yet, Paul knew the necessity of all following the truth of God for the church to grow. Division does just that divide the people, leading to more pride, anger, ultimately driving the people away from God rather than toward Him and Salvation.
So, Paul, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, gathered money donations wherever he went in the Gentile churches, so he could take that to the Jewish Congregation in Jerusalem. Now it was time to return. Yet as we read in Acts 20, everywhere Paul went he was warned that the road to Jerusalem for him was one that led to imprisonment, torture, and even the possibility of death. To choose to go meant having a fearless faith whatever the cost.
A choice like Jesus made for love
God did not hide the truth from Paul. Indeed, He told Paul that perils lay ahead; but I command you go anyway. Paul said, “I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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: 22-24).
Then in Caesarea, a prophet name Agabus came. He warned Paul as was confirmed by 4 Prophetesses, that in Jerusalem he would be bound. Then Paul answered, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased. Saying, The will of the Lord be done. (Acts 21:13-14).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with great agony, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42). Was this not the passionate cry that love commanded, with fearless faith in His Father’s plan, Jesus marched on to the cross. Whatever the cost, He chose to do the Father’s will.
Paul’s love for Christ gave him fearless faith whatever the cost. And Paul’s love for Christ caused him to weep over the lost and dying of this world. Passion and love drove the heart of Paul who marched on whatever the cost. His love of Jesus Christ compelled him to tell everyone about the truth.
Concluding Thoughts
What about you and me? Do we love Jesus that much? Are we driven by that love to face every situation trusting Him completely with a fearless faith, whatever the cost? Nothing else matters as much as knowing Him.
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, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:8-10).
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.