Your Daily Devotional for May 1, 2006

May 1, 2006

 

None of These Things Move Me

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

"And now, behold, 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 of the gospel of the grace of God."

Acts 20:22-24

 

We live in a constantly changing society that is affecting our culture and eroding the godly morals of previous generations. In the middle of all this change, I thank God for Malachi 3:6a, which simply says, "For I am the Lord, I change not." I thank God today for His immutability, for the fact that His Word never changes and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Just as God is unchangeable, I believe that men and women who walk closely with God will also possess about them the same characteristic in that they will not change in the basic truths and principles of His Word. In this passage we see Paul's meeting with the Ephesian pastors at Troas where the apostle Paul was ministering to the believers there. At the end of his discourse he states, "None of these things move me." This simply tells us that Paul was valuing his circumstances as nothing. They were not going to weigh him down or change his vigor and desire to do the work of God. Paul knew his purpose and would not be moved from fulfilling what God would have him to do.

 

Paul would not allow the burden he had for others to move him. The fact is that when you are serving God faithfully, and working a job and doing all the extra things in life, sometimes just trying to love people can be an overwhelming responsibility. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:28, "Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." The care of all the ministry needs was a tremendous burden on Paul. Despite the fact that trials were on the horizon, Paul was bound to do the work of God. The Holy Spirit had a predetermined destiny for his life and was keeping him going as a witness and worker for God.

 

We must realize that there will be times of discomfort and suffering in the ministry. Our burden for the work of God may involve time and it may involve transitions. Acts 18:5 says, "And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." Paul's burden for others would not keep him from testifying of the Gospel, rather it caused him to continue in his purpose of seeing souls saved.

 

Paul would not quit. He realized that he had a high calling. I wonder today what would it take to get you to quit? What would it take to move you from the will of God for your life? Though we will be burdened with overwhelming circumstances as we go about our day, may we determine that none of these things shall move us from fulfilling that which God has called us to do.

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