This is amazing to me and something I want, the courage to do what the Spirit is leading me to do. Paul shares “…I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.” And this does not detour him from what needs to be done. Could we say that we would do anything if we knew there was jail and suffering? That is not very appealing but Paul wasn’t trying to live his life for himself he was living to do what he received from Jesus. As we open our hearts and read God’s word we can be moved to do God’s will instead of our own. It takes faith in what we are learning and who Jesus is, not the circumstances we are in.
Look how Paul is sharing with them to step up and don’t shrink back when he is gone. Verse 28 says, “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock – His church, purchased with His own blood – over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” This was to the followers in Asia but we have the same job description as followers of Jesus today. We must learn and seek wisdom and then we must share that knowledge and wisdom with others so people see Christ in us and our love helps them want to seek their own wisdom.
What is exciting about this is it’s not just for the un-churched people; everyone needs to keep growing and maturing in their walk so we can all listen to the Spirit without hesitation. And our excitement is not what we have but what Jesus has done for us. When our faith moves and we have no doubt, that is when we can say what Paul did in Acts chapter 20 verse 24, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Our transformation and willingness to grow is what feeds the Spirit in us and when we purposely feed that Spirit He gives us what we need to stand firm in our belief and make the sacrifices to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Amen