“‘However, 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
The life of an apostle was not the life Paul had originally chosen for himself. When he was known as Saul, he was a fervent student of the law of Moses and was opposed to anything that wasn’t Jewish. Scholars believe he was a member of the Sanhedrin, a court for the Jews. When followers of Christ began to preach about Jesus, Saul saw them as a threat.
He actively sought to imprison the disciples and approved of killing them (Acts 8:1). Saul was content with being an enemy of Jesus and likely had plans to continue working his way up through the ranks of Jewish law and order.
Then, he crossed paths with Jesus. The rug of his life was pulled out from under him as Jesus called him to proclaim the gospel among the Gentiles. Within days, Saul—now Paul—had embraced his new calling. He went from imprisoning disciples to being the one thrown in prison. From the beginning of his mission, people sought to kill him. Paul traveled extensively to both preach the gospel and escape harm.
This nomadic, Christ-following lifestyle was not what Paul had signed up for, but he surrendered himself completely to it. He knew he had a race to run, and his only aim was to finish it.
God may call us to a life that throws all of our plans and desires out the window. That could mean leaving a career, letting go of a dream, or uprooting your entire life for something different. Change like this can range from uncomfortable to utterly terrifying.
People are generally not looking to have a road-to-Damascus moment in their lives. They would rather have their lives planned out and carry on without any major interruptions. But when God disrupts our best laid plans, it’s because He has something greater in store for us.
Paul could have lived the rest of his life as a seemingly God-fearing Jew and become a well-respected expert in the law. Instead, Paul became an apostle of Christ and spent the rest of his years spreading the gospel in areas where Jesus was unknown. He helped spark the explosive growth of the early Church and recorded exhortations that guide Christians to this day.
Paul knew he faced imprisonment and hardships wherever he went (Acts 20:23). This was not the life he had planned, but his life was no longer about him. It was about testifying to the good news of Jesus to the Jews, the Gentiles, and anyone else who would listen.
Learning to let go of your ideal life can be a challenge. If doing so seems unbearable, it’s worth asking yourself whether your life’s plans are glorifying you or glorifying God. God has a mission for every believer. We can either choose to run His race or our own.