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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
v. 24. “But none o f these things move me, neither count I my life (hut I hold not my life o f any account, as) dear unto myself, so that I might finish (accomplish) my course with joy ('omit, with joy), and the ministry which I have ('omit, have) received o f (from) the Lord Jesus, to tes tify the gospel o f the grace o f God.” Here we have Paul’s answer to the Holy Spirit’s warnings o f peril ahead, “ I hold not myself o f any account, as dear unto myself.” These are wonderful words and should be deeply pondered by us all. How many o f us can say, “ I hold not my life o f any account, as dear unto myself ?” What words these are for this easy-going and self-sparing age. There are many modern preachers and people who would like to be Pauls. These words tell us .how to be Pauls, that is by yielding our lives unto Him abso lutely, and holding them o f no account whatever, only as useful unto Him, and if they can be o f some use to Him by being laid down, then laying them down (Phil. 2:17). As-regards himself Paul had but one ambition, to accomplish his course, i.e., the courSe that God had set before him, and to accomplish the ministry which he had received not from men, but from the Lord Jesus, that ministry being to testify the gospel o f the grace o f God. “ The gos pel of-the grace o f God” means the good news that announces God*s free, unmerited favor to all sinners without any desert of their own, based upon the atoning blood o f Jesus Christ. In writing to the bishop of this same church at a later date Paul declares that his ambition to finish his course was fulfilled (2 Tim .-4:7, 8 ). This all-governing ambition to accomplish the work which he had been given to do, Paul had learned from the Lord Jesus Himself (1 ) Travels and Trials, vs. 16-24. With whom did Paul confer at Miletus? v. 17. Whence and for what had they obtained their office? Eph. 4:8-12. What did Paul do “first” at Ephesus ?
(John 17:4). vs. 25-27. "And now (add,) behold I know that ye all, among whom I have gone (went about) preaching the kingdom of .God (omit, o f God), shall see my face no more. Wherefore I fa k e you to record (testify unto you) this day, that I am pure from the blood o f all men. F o r I have not shunned to declare (shrank not from declar ing) all the (the whole) counsel o f-God.” Paul was confident that this was the last time that he would meet these among whom he had been so long preaching the kingdom, therefore he called upon them'to witness Jo his fidelity. He could say, “I am pure from blood o f all men,” Not only could he say it, but they were forced 'to testify it was true. Oh, how many there are o f us, both ministers and Christians, who cannot say that (cf. Ezek. 3:18; 33:3-9). No man can say it truly except he has done everything that lies in his power to save others from their' sins and their consequences. I f one has neglected a single opportunity o f saying a word that would have led another to Christ, he can not say, “ I am pure from the blood o f all men.” But Paul could say it: The reason why he could say it was because he had not shrank from “ declaring the whole counsel o f God.” The one who holds hack any part o f God’s counsel because it is not pleasant, or welcome to his hearers, or because it would make him unpopular to declare if, cannot say, “ I am pure from the blood o f all men.” No, on the contrary, the blood o f those to whom he has been unwilling to declare the whole counsel o f God is upon him. W e will each one o f us do well to ask ourselves whether we have declared the whole.counsel o f God” to every one to whom God would have us declare it. 18:19, What was his example in humility and service? Phil. 2:5-7. What was the occasion o f Paul’s tears? Rom. 12:15; Acts 20:31; Phil. 3:18, 19; 2 Cor. 2 :4.
LESSON OUTLINE
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