The Book of Acts: Turn Your World Upside DownSample

Today’s Devotional:

I love watching competitions among elite athletes. I have caught excerpts on television of the CrossFit competitions where these buff people with five percent body fat do all kinds of pull-ups and squats within a set period. So much easier watching from my couch with some snacks and a soda in hand.

All throughout these competitions, they have to endure pain to win the race. This is why they call their race an obstacle course. What makes the race challenging is that they must push past the obstacles while enduring physical pain. Ouch.

The Apostle Paul was called to run his race of faith. He would have to endure pain while pushing past obstacles getting in his way.

“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:22-24 (NLT)

How was he able to do this? Why did Paul embrace his race, knowing how painful and difficult it would be? His decision was to be led (bound) by the Holy Spirit. Wherever God’s Spirit led Him, Paul followed. Why? Because Paul wanted to finish his race of faith. For Paul, a win for him was in living out his holy assignment given by the Lord Jesus. Paul saw success not in comfort but in calling. Mission drove him, and his ministry fulfilled him. Are you willing to run that race if God calls you to a tough assignment? Are you willing to push past obstacles and endure pain when it comes? Can you endure that theology? You can when you accept your holy assignment given by the Lord Jesus to share His Good News message.

You can when you decide to let the Holy Spirit speak to you and lead you where He wants to take you.

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Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Matt Pilot.

Questions to Consider:

• What assignment are you called to in this season?
• Are you willing to continue to run the race even when it gets hard?

Prayer:

God, thank you for your calling on my life. Help me to continue to run the race even through obstacles and hardships. I pray that you would fill me with your presence, power, and strength to continue to do your will. Amen.