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Finishing the Course
(Acts 20:22-27—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang)


“I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (v24)

That’s Paul’s God’s given grace? How about you? Have you found your race—the God’s given life-mission? Everyone has a race to run. Whether you are a home-maker, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a pastor or other professionals. Psalm 139:13-14 tells us “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!”God has a special race for each and everyone of us.

Second, with Christ (Mat 28:19), we should determine to finish well. Third, with God’s help nothing should deter me. Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.

Paul was given one of he toughest race to bring the Gospel of grace to the gentiles (2 Cor 11:16-33). He knew very well, his life will be in danger if he continued to go to Jerusalem, yet. Nothing could stop him.

What might made us quit? 1) failures and disappointments. Some failed projects, lack of appreciation, being misunderstood, difficult relationship and rejection. Amongst these, perhaps relationship is the most common. As servant of His grace, we should also live by His grace. 2) Oppositions/hardships—from outside, within the team or within ourselves where we often are not sure about ourselves; we have no peace within us and tend to blame it on others. Paul faced all these problems. 

Ministry above life

To finish the course, you must put the ministry that you received from the Lord above even life itself. (What I mean ministry is not just limited to our church or Christian service but our life as an entire service to God. In order to finish well the course we need to manage our life in such a way that all aspects (family, profession, church-relation and involvement, social life) come as a whole—well integrated. And all are aiming to achieve the life goal that Christ has set for us. In this fragmented society, if we are not careful we also tend to compartmentalized our life—to segregate church, family, social, and profession. Ask God for wisdom: How you can manage your life as a whole in a balanced way that all will aim to finish your God’s given race. None of are volunteers. Every one is a full-timer in God’s kingdom—we’re all God’s ministers with different gifts and unique make-up find our ‘cut” where we can fix in well into the tapestry of His church. And as a church, let’s find our gifts and unique make-up and God’s given mission—so we can fit into the tapestry of His Kingdom together with other churches.

To finish your course well:
First, find your God’s given race—your life mission.
Second, if this is from God, His presence will be with you. Determine to finish well. Third, with God’s help all others can be overcome.

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