Chauncey's verses, Acts 20

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 NIV)

This is the first of 3 verses in this Chapter that are parallel to our Radical discussion this afternoon at Bible Study. As disciples for Christ our lives are nothing except in service to him. How am I doing with finishing the race? Some days I question if I'm even off the starting line! But I will continue to share and lead wherever possible and wherever the race takes me. God's Grace is too awesome not to share.

Second verse - Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 NIV)

Keep watch, over your flock, be shepherds, THE CROSS, Jesus' blood. A lot of responsibility our Father has placed on us. But we must remember, that God will only charge us with what HE all ready knows we can handle. HE will give us the time to get the things done that HE wants us to accomplish.

Third, In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35 NIV)

No one said it would be easy, in fact, being a disciple requires us to give up a lot, no everything according to the Luke Chapter 14:25-33. But as we struggle with this charge in Luke, we can still help the weak, poor, abandonded, widowed, orphaned and homeless. By doing this & walking as God instructs, we are sharing our blessings...giving! And the blessing of receiving when we share our gifts is found in Galatians 6:9.