And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:22-24 NLT
Remember Paul received a very specific call from God to go to Jerusalem (Acts 23:11). But remember that Paul had earlier received a general call to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21). Also, remember that Paul received both general and specific callings under extreme circumstances! His words started a religious riot among the warring religious gangs of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
In these verses above, Paul says he doesn’t exactly know what it will look like. Except he knows there will be prison and suffering involved. All he knows is that he must go and is determined to finish what God had assigned him. What part does pure GRIT play in pursing God’s calling? We know it takes faith! Maybe grit is a synonym for faith?
Speaking of grit, Paul shares with the very wild and talented people in the churches of Corinth his most transparent expression of exasperation! The churches had been listening to fake preachers brag about their pedigrees and their “burden” to spread the manure of a false gospel! Paul writes of his own riotous, quite miraculous journey to fulfill the calling of God. Because, when you know, you know.
Paul writes about prison-time, beatings and left for dead. Five times he received the famous thirty-nine lashing (believing that 40 would kill a man, it was merciful to do 39) from religious leaders behaving as thugs. Three more beatings with rods. He lived after being stoned. He survived three shipwrecks, including a night and day drifting in the open sea. He faced dangers from rivers and from robbers, deserts and seas. He worked tirelessly, hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. He had been hungry and thirsty and often gone without food. He had shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep warm. Then, besides all that, he carried the daily burden of concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
Doesn’t this sound like a great prep-talk or sermon about the wonderful “calling of the Lord?” Paul wasn’t complaining to the Corinthian community, he was bragging about God’s power, seen through one human life. Paul knew what he knew and with that grit, he did far more than just survive this life on a dark planet – he thrived and flourished! Paul made it to Jerusalem to share the gospel with Caesar himself. God’s blessing, His grace, mercy and protection would not be found in Paul’s fame, money or power. It would be found in a spectacular resilience and strength to accomplish His will.
What is your calling? Don’t be afraid to ask. And don’t be afraid to hear the answer. I am no Paul, but thankfully God has called me. I am called to the broken. I am called to restore hope in those who have been told they are worthless because of what they have done or what others have done to them. I desire to be a hopebroker to the very end!
Prayer
Dad,
A full third of my life was a struggle! A struggle of value, identity and purpose. You gave me a life that I could not ever of dreamed. It has been above and beyond adventurous along with some adversity. I was and still am determined to fulfill the calling you have given. With the grit of your grace I will be faithful. I know that I know. Thank you. Amen.