Live faithfully and fearlessly
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
Jesus chose Paul to demonstrate "dying to self”. Paul beautifully summarized in today's key verse the fact that his life is worth nothing to him, but only to finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given him. Losing our lives for Christ isn't an escape, but rather a spiritual principle of living life faithfully and fearlessly.
As we can see from Paul's life, I believe he demonstrates both "identification with Christ" and "the power of resurrection”. As Paul says in Philippians 2:1, we are to be "united with Christ". How can we identify with Christ? It is by identification with His death. Our old way of life represents our sin, and we need to end it, like Christ did on the cross, by crucifying our flesh, by letting go of our self, and without death we cannot be led to the way of resurrection by God's faithfulness.
Paul says that we are "alive with Christ." Every believer who becomes the child of God undergoes a miracle metamorphosis, crossing from death and resurrecting life, even though they cannot see or experience it physically. That is how we can live faithfully and fearlessly because we have overcome death and thus, no longer fear death or preserving ourselves.
We have resurrection power in us that comes from the Holy Spirit, so that when we deny ourselves and follow Christ daily, we are strengthened at all tiimes. As we know we will receive life everlasting in our resurrected bodies and hold fast to the truth, we are not afraid of losing our lives for the sake of the gospel, even though our physical life on earth may wear out eventually, we need not fearfully preserve it. We can live for the Lord faithfully and boldly and freely give our lives to Him.
In our resurrected life, that is glorification, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18, Let us learn from Paul and live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel.
Blessing prayer: Thank you for your faithfulness and grace in redeeming us from death to life, may the hope of your faithfulness abound in us and the resurrection power overflow from us, In Jesus' name, Amen.
