That I might finish my course with joy

Acts 20:24

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.

Paul endured more persecution than almost any other, and his life was accented and punctuated by hard times, trials, and temptations. Distresses were on every side. He endured all this for the gospel’s sake, and never complained. To him, it was a joy to suffer shame for His name! It was an honor to carry the cross of affliction after the Lord. Here, Paul had preached across Asia, Macedonia, Achaia, and all the regions round about. He had faithfully and ardently preached the gospel. He had assiduously taught the people everywhere who Christ was and the way of salvation. He was pure from the blood of all men! He had not shunned to declare all the counsel of God! No one has probably done more for Christ than he. And as Paul was preparing to go to Jerusalem one last time, He was told by the Spirit that he would be bound there. They would not receive his testimony. He knew not what would befall him there, but knew it would be bonds and afflictions. But his stalwart faith and his unflagging commitment to His Savior would not keep him from Jerusalem. He would go regardless of the afflictions. And he said “none of these things move me.”

None of these things move me! I don’t count my life dear unto myself! My life is not my own! Its purpose is bound up in the Lord and in the propagation of the gospel. It is not dear to me! There is only one purpose for which I live, only one goal for the which I strive. There is only one reason, one driving factor, one incentive for the continuation of life on this earth—and it is to finish my course with joy! Finish my course! Complete it! I want to say, “I have fought a good fight,” and “I have finished my course!” But Paul did not only want to finish his course, but that course, to him, must be finished with joy. With joy! Although afflictions and troubles and anguish abound, this was God’s calling, and this was His life. He would finish with the joy of the Lord exuding from his being, for he had been given the greatest privilege of any human being. To him was vouchsafed the greatest and highest and most felicitous calling—to testify the gospel of the grace of God. That was the purpose of his very life. And this he must finish with joy.

Dear friend, what is it that you have been called to? Has not God called the foolish things of the world to confound the mighty? Has not God chosen the weak things of the world, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are? Is this not the highest calling of God—to testify the gospel of Christ? Is this not more important than life itself? Is not life meaningless if it is not used by the Lord? However the Lord may have chosen you, you must abide in the calling wherewith you are called, and you must finish your course with joy. Ask the Lord this day to renew you to the joy of the Lord. For the joy of the Lord will be your strength! Beloved, strive that you may finish your course with joy!

“Father, we thank you for the example of the apostle Paul, who gave every ounce of his effort and every fiber of his own being to finish the race that you had called him to. May we live with the same passion, the same zeal, the same drive. May we seek to finish the course to which you have called us, and to finish it with joy. And we shall praise you for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”