"We are not alive in this world in order to experience God or to enjoy the blessings of a comfortable life. If that were God's purpose, He would have brought you into His Presence in heaven the moment you were forgiven and adopted into His family. Your purpose until you die is to reveal a new attitude toward suffering and a new agenda in prayer that flows out of your new purpose in life that makes sense only if you claim your new hope of resurrection." Larry Crabb
In all of this opposition in these chapters, they pray not for protection from suffering but for boldness in testifying. They were committed to their new-found purpose and dependent on God's power. Opposition like this would sideline most. Not Paul. May we live with eyes fixed on our purpose for being here. "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me---the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24
All those hardships, sleepless nights, shipwrecks, merciless beatings. "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 the Gospel of the Grace of God." Acts 20:24
The Kingdom stirs in this heart. And it's a beautiful calling. This Gospel of Grace. And it is this Grace that builds us up. Acts 20:32. We all need to be built up this day, this moment.
The Kingdom stirs in this heart. And it's a beautiful calling. This Gospel of Grace. And it is this Grace that builds us up. Acts 20:32. We all need to be built up this day, this moment.
PHOTO: The Hill Country. Reflecting on this Gospel of Grace\ and a new attitude toward suffering.
$3,000 was taken out of our hand today and I lost it. I wonder why.
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