“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
The Apostle Paul had a goal. It was to finish his course with joy! Do you want that joy in your life; joy that springs up from your heart and fills you with new strength and vision, purpose, and anointing every morning?
The key is found in what Paul said, “… nor do I count my life as dear to myself.” He found joy by forgetting about himself and finding out what God had for him. His past, his old identity, his human limitations were all behind him. He discovered that the life God offered him was the only thing that could ever satisfy him.
It’s when we begin to focus on ourselves that we start down that dead-end road to unhappiness, discontent, frustration and anger. God created us in such a way that, no matter how we try, we cannot fulfill ourselves. In fact, the more we have – the more we want. Eternity is in the heart of man and there is nothing in this natural world that can truly satisfy that eternal part of us!
The source of all unhappiness, discontentment and frustration – is selfishness! Selfishness is being in our own little world and smack dab in the middle of it! Selfishness is when everything revolves around US! By the way, that’s what being the god of your own life is all about! That may be why you feel so dissatisfied and empty too. You were not designed to be the god of your own life. That can only be fulfilled by our heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can possibly understand.
Jesus has a better life for all of us. He said, I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
If you want the kind of joy that greets you with new strength every morning, then make Jesus your Way, your Truth and your Life; and, like Paul, none of the other things will move you either, because you already found the open door to freely enjoy all you were created for!
With Love,
Pastor Tom