Acts 20:24 

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24 

Apostle Paul was giving his final message to the elders in Ephesus as he prepared to go to Jerusalem. He already knew, through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, that imprisonment and hardships awaited him there. Paul knew that his time to depart and to be present with the Lord was drawing near. Paul was setting things in order, ensuring that the work of God would continue even after his departure.

When Paul said, “But none of these things move me,” he was speaking about the hardships and trials he knew awaited him in Jerusalem. Paul understood that being a disciple of the Lord Jesus comes with a cost. Did not the Lord Jesus Himself say,

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you”  –
John 15:18

One of the greatest character traits I admire the most and that both you and I should imitate from Apostle Paul is his willingness to endure all hardships for the sake of the gospel. Paul never allowed persecution, pain, or suffering to silence his faith or weaken his commitment to the mission he was called to fulfill. Whether beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, or rejected, his focus remained steadfast.

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” II Corinthians‬ ‭11:23-28‬

The reason Apostle Paul was able to endure so much and remain faithful was because his mindset was fixed on the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of this world. With this understanding, we can see why his life on earth was no longer dear to him. He said, “nor do I count my life dear to myself.” Apostle Paul lived with the conviction that his life no longer belonged to him, it belonged completely to Jesus Christ. As he declared, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” From the day he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul died to his old self. He no longer lived for his own desires or ambitions; his mind, heart, soul, and strength were completely poured out in service to the Lord Jesus.

The world could no longer entice him because he knew that this present world is temporary and destined for judgment. He wrote to the Corinthians:

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” – ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭4:5‬ ‭

And while preaching in Athens, Paul boldly declared:

“because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”” – Acts‬ ‭17:31‬ ‭

Apostle Paul was already living with the kingdom of God in view, knowing that everything apart from Christ would one day perish. That’s why he considered it useless to pour his heart, mind, and strength into worldly things that do not last. His life was fully consumed by the eternal purpose of God.

Didn’t he elaborate on this when he said that all the things he had accomplished, he counted them as rubbish or waste?

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” — Philippians 3:8

Paul’s greatest desire was not fame, comfort, success, or anything this world could offer but everything that is found in Christ. He longed not only to have knowledge about Jesus but to obtain an excellent and personal knowledge of Him to truly know His Lord through intimate fellowship. Paul’s pursuit was not driven by earthly ambition but by a burning desire to draw closer to Christ in every way.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” — Philippians 3:10 

All his goals were centered on one pursuit: to know Jesus and to experience the power of His resurrection. He desired to share in the fellowship of His sufferings, to be conformed to His death, and ultimately to live fully for the glory of the One who redeemed him.

Apostle Paul’s fervent love and affection for the Lord Jesus Christ were exceedingly deep, so consuming that it filled his entire being. Every thought, desire, and action flowed from his devotion to the LORD Jesus Christ. As Paul beautifully declared,

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians‬ ‭2:20

Now we can understand what Paul meant when he said, “so that I may finish my race with joy.” Despite all the hardships he had to face, Paul was determined to complete the course and fulfill the ministry God had entrusted to him with joy. Why? Because he never gave the world a chance to distract him from his calling. Nothing could turn his heart away from the purpose God placed before him.

Paul was so determined to remain faithful that he kept his body and desires in full submission to the will of God. As he wrote:

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” — 1 Corinthians 9:27 

And why did Paul have such joy? Because he knew that at the end of his race, he would see the Lord Jesus, the One he desired and loved the most. His heart longed for that glorious moment when he would finally stand before his Master, face to face, and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Paul’s joy was the joy of a faithful servant filled with excitement and anticipation to be with his Lord, knowing that he had fulfilled his calling. This is what he meant when he said, “and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

We all know that Apostle Paul finished the task that was given to him, as he reminded and encouraged Timothy with these powerful words,

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” II Timothy‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭

Paul’s message to Timothy is also a message to you and me. Each of us has a task from God that we are called to accomplish. Just as Paul was faithful to finish the ministry entrusted to him, we too are called to fulfill what God has placed in our hands.