A Committed Heart (Part Three)

This week we are seeing Paul’s view of commitment,  and that commitment began (Monday) with being committed to our spiritual responsibilities in Christ, then continued (yesterday) with our dependence upon our God. Today we close this portion of Paul’s message to the elders from the church at Ephesus by seeing we must also be

Committed to Determination

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (v.24)

What is Paul facing? Hardship, affliction, imprisonment, bondage, even death—yet see his attitude in it…

Determined- In Phil.4, he reminds us that, whether abased or abounding, he was undeterred by his circumstances! The key is…

• The apostle’s restlessness- a man mastered by Christ will be adrift from other ties to the heart.
• The apostle’s rest- the man mastered by Christ will be at peace in Christ, regardless of the circumstances!

Dispensable- “neither count I my own life dear to myself” Harry Ironside wrote, “After all, my life is of no account except as it is used for the glory of God, except as I have the privilege of ministering Christ to others. I am not afraid of bonds & imprisonment, but I am afraid of dishonoring my Lord, & so my great concern is not my life, but my duty.” The phrase “dear to myself” displays a willingness to sacrifice self rather than sacrificing duty. He was…

• Ready to die (Acts 21:10-13)
• Committed to the glory of Christ (“…that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Phili 1:20.
• He was a living contrast to the excuses of others (Luke 9:57-62)

The question is whether or not the word “sacrifice” fits comfortably in our life-vocabulary! Work, play, worship- how real is our sacrifice?

Directional- “so that I might finish my course with joy” He had a purpose to fulfill, a goal to reach, and a ministry to finish. Life and death was not the issue, finishing the course was the issue- the glory of God was the issue! What was he doing? Allowing the priorities of life to direct him so that his life would be a life of no regrets! He did it…

• By making full proof of his ministry (2 Tim 4:5)
• By completing the course set before him (2 Tim 4:7), even if that course took him places he did not humanly desire to go!

Paul was determined to not have his life stained with wasted opportunity, and was determined to finish his course. Through grace, he accomplished the goal- with joy! Because he was committed to viewing himself as expendable for the sake of the Gospel. What are you committed to?

Paul was committed to duty, dependence on the Lord, and a determination to finish the course. Lessons?

• We all have a course to run and a duty to perform for Christ;
• We should let nothing deter us from that course, for we are only truly safe in the will of God;
• We must live in such a way as to finish our course with joy;
• It matters little where or when we die, as long as it is in the discharge of our duty for Christ.

That is the passion of a committed heart. On Monday, we will resume our examination of Acts 20 and a heart for ministry.