THE SEND: Luke & ActsSample

Paul is a man who had a radical encounter with Jesus that changed his life. He went from killing Christians to being killed for preaching Christ. A pretty drastic life change!

There are some wild things that happen in these chapters. People are filled with the Spirit, the gospel is proclaimed in a lecture hall for 2 years, several million dollars' worth of sorcery books are thrown on a bonfire, and a riot almost breaks out. Then Paul escapes being murdered, resurrects a young man, and says a tearful goodbye to his close friends. And I didn't even mention some pretty special handkerchiefs.

But there's also this question running through the chapter - is it ok to shrink back from obedience to God's call on your life when life gets hard?

Paul didn't shrink back from a 2 year commitment to reasoning with the Ephesians but believed that it was worth it for Jews and Greeks to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 19:8-10). The men and women of Ephesus didn't shrink back from the cost of burning millions of pounds worth of books of sorcery but said that the cost was worth it (Acts 19:17-20). Paul didn't shrink back from a journey to Jerusalem that he knew could lead to his death because he believed staying faithful was worth it (Acts 20:22-24).

Others didn't want to pay the cost of obedience. The people of Ephesus shrank back from the call to give up their old lives, because they feared the loss of money, status, and privileges (Acts 19:23-27). And the Sons of Sceva shrank back from having a real relationship with Jesus because they wanted the power of the name of Jesus without the cost of following him (Acts 19:13-16).

In these chapters, we see Paul on one of his final journeys to the places he took the Gospel. You see his heart for the churches and his desire to see the lost come to know Jesus. With all that Paul goes through in his journey with God, we see one thing that is consistent: he always shares the Good News of Jesus. In the midst of sacrifice, persecution, and opposition, Paul never shrank back from what God had called him to do (Acts 20:24).

Paul quotes the words of Jesus at the end of chapter 20, reminding the Ephesian elders, "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). It may feel daunting to step into the life Jesus calls us to live, but the gift of the Gospel is the best thing we could ever receive. How much better when we get to give it to others too?!

Where is God calling you to not shrink back from his calling on your life?