Acts 20-23, 27-28
Ephesians 1-6
2 Timothy 1-4

I loved riding my bike on the trails by house as a kid. Adventures, wheelies, racing with friends and jumping off ramps pretty much summed up a typical day in the summer. 

One time, my friend Jordan and I built a ramp out of a cinder block and an old piece of plywood that we found. We thought it was the coolest ramp ever! It seemed solid too: cinder block and wood. What could go wrong? 

Without hesitation I volunteered to go first. Jordan stepped back, gave it another look and said, “I don’t know about this. It doesn’t look too safe.” But for me, the risk was worth the reward. I flew at top speed down the driveway at the ramp thinking I would launch on my bike about 10 feet in the air. And that is exactly what happened… just without my bike. The wood snapped in half. I flew and crashed to the ground. But even though I was bumped, bruised and bleeding, I still look back on that moment and say, “That was worth it!”

Read Acts 20:17-24 for a glimpse into Paul’s final calling as a follower of Christ.

Paul’s life has been filled with ups and downs and twists and turns. At this point in his journey, he knows what comes next. But first, he hops aboard a ship with a bunch of his disciple buddies. Here, Paul gives a little speech.

Let me summarize what he said: “Hey guys, I love the Lord. My life is 100% for Christ and I have received a task because of this love. It’s simple, yet really difficult: It’s the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. My next stop to do this is in Jerusalem.” 

This caused some anxiety among his friends. They could see that where he was going wasn’t going to be safe. One man, named Agabus, received a word from the Holy Spirit. He took off Paul’s belt, wrapped his hands and legs and said, “In this way, Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind you up and hand you over to the Gentiles.” Like my friend Jordan, Paul’s friends stepped back and surveyed what was in front of Him and said, “This is not safe. Don’t do it.”

Paul’s response here is a model for us as believers. One that shows full surrender, no matter the cost. He knows he is heading into trouble, but he says, “My life is worth nothing; my only aim is to share the grace of God with those around me.” Bumps, bruises, cuts, never seeing his friends again… nothing would hold Paul back. The command from Christ to share God with all people was worth the danger, even if the outcome was Paul’s own death. 

I wonder how quick we are to live in this way. 

Would you ride as fast as you could on your bike, at a ramp that you knew would break and cause you great injury? 

Would you speak up, stand out, and communicate the truth of God’s Word to people if you knew you could lose friends, be laughed at, or find yourself separated from the people you loved in this world? 

You might be saving their life, but it could cost you yours.

Although Paul did the right thing by following Christ’s call to share the Gospel, I bet he had some reservations, doubt, and nervousness in his heart. He’s human, just like you and me. My guess is you might feel a little cautious to give up your ‘normal’ to do what Jesus commanded in his Word.

Take a minute to pray for courage right now:

God, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. Because of him, we no longer have to face death and separation from you. Thank you for not leaving us, but being present and including us in your story on earth! Father, as some of us have chosen to follow you, claiming Jesus as Lord and Savior, we live with hope for a future. Others still do not have this in their lives. Holy Spirit stir up inside us the commission that Jesus gave, to ‘Go and make disciples’, teaching, baptizing and leading the lost to new life in Christ. Give us courage; this won’t be easy. Fill us with your power and heart to serve and love those around us. Amen.