None of These Things Move Me

Acts 20:22-24" And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save
that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me. But 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 of the gospel of the grace of God."

We live in a constantly changing society that is affecting our
culture and eroding the godly morals of previous generations. In the
middle of all this change, I thank God for Malachi 3:6a, which simply
says, "For I am the Lord, I change not." I thank God today for His
immutability, for the fact that His Word never changes and that He is
the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Just as God is unchangeable, I believe that men and women who walk
closely with God will also possess about them a characteristic like
God in that they will not change in the basic truths and principles
of His Word. In this passage we see Paul's meeting with the Ephesian
pastors at Troas where the apostle Paul was ministering to the
believers there. At the end of his discourse he states, "None of
these things move me." This simply tells us that Paul was valuing his
circumstances as nothing. They were not going to weigh him down or
change his vigor and desire to do the work of God. Paul knew his
purpose and would not be moved from fulfilling what God would have
him to do.

Paul would not allow the burden he had for others to move him. The
fact is that when you are serving God faithfully, and working a job
and doing all the extra things in life, sometimes just trying to love
people can be an overwhelming responsibility. Paul says in 2
Corinthians 11:28, "Beside those things that are without, that which
cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." The care of all
the ministry needs was a tremendous burden on Paul. Despite the fact
that trials were on the horizon, Paul was bound to do the work of
God. The Holy Spirit had a predetermined destiny for his life and was
keeping him going as a witness and worker for God.

We must realize that there will be times of discomfort and suffering
in the ministry. Our burden for the work of God may involve time and
it may involve transitions. Acts 18:5 says, "And when Silas and
Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit,
and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." Paul's burden for
others would not keep him from testifying of the Gospel, rather it
caused him to continue in his purpose of seeing souls saved.

Paul would not quit. He realized that he had a high calling. I wonder
today what would it take to get you to quit? What would it take to
move you from the will of God for your life? Though we will be
burdened with overwhelming circumstances as we go about our day, may
we determine that none of these things shall move us from fulfilling
that which God has called us to do.

by Dr. Paul Chappell
(Lancaster Baptist Church - California)