“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 the gospel of the grace of God.“
— Acts 20:24 KJV
Reflection on Today's Verse
The word “race” is interesting, isn’t it? It’s not a casual jog, a stroll, or a meandering through the park on a Sunday afternoon. It’s a race. There’s a sense of urgency, a purpose. But here’s the twist—it’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. And marathons aren’t about how fast you go; they’re about keeping the pace, not giving up even when your legs are jelly, and your mind is screaming, “Just Uber to the finish line already!” (Seriously, if Uber had a marathon rescue service, I’d be all over it.)
And then there’s this bit about the good news of God’s grace. Grace. It’s such a churchy word, but it’s also the best word. It’s not just kindness or mercy; it’s a lavish, undeserved gift that just keeps giving. Think of it like a bottomless cup of coffee—every time you think it’s over, surprise! It’s full again. Paul is basically saying, “I’m gonna keep running, talking about how God just keeps filling up our cups, no matter how many times we knock them over.”
So, what does this mean for us, sitting here with our phones and our to-do lists that never seem to shrink? Maybe it’s about recalibrating. Maybe it’s about asking, “What’s my race?” or even, “Have I been running at all, or just kind of standing around pretending to stretch?” It’s okay if we don’t have it all figured out yet—Paul didn’t always either. (I mean, the guy spent the first part of his career as a full-time church-wrecker before God switched his job description.) But when he found his mission, he went all in. No half-measures, no Plan B. Just full-on, head-down, eyes-on-the-prize dedication.
So here’s to finding our races, to not giving up when we’re tired, and to remembering that it’s not about how quickly we get there but how faithfully we run. And maybe—just maybe—we can all take a page from Paul’s playbook and start focusing less on clinging to what we think life should be, and more on living the story God’s been writing for us all along.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to contemplate my own race—right after I finish this coffee.
Personal Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the strength and courage to run this race with the same passion and perseverance as Paul. Help me to testify to Your goodness, not just with my words, but through every step I take. And when the journey gets tough, remind me that it’s Your grace that carries me through, not my own strength.
Lord, I don’t want to just go through the motions—I want to live with purpose, the kind of purpose that comes from knowing I’m walking in Your will. Help me to finish strong, not for my glory, but to make Your love and grace known to the world.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.