| Romans 15:22-24 "This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while." Paul was indeed a man of the gospel. In verse 19 he said that "from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." He wasn't boasting at all, as in verse 23 he said "there is no more place for me to work in these regions." Think about it - He worked so hard for the gospel that he left no more place to preach the gospel in a city! Why was Paul so motivated to preach the gospel? There are several reasons. First, Paul had a clear vision. When he encountered the Lord on the way to Damascus, a great light shined on him, and he knew that the one speaking to him was the master who would change his life. Although he didn't know this master, he knew that it was his Lord. He then fell on the ground and asked two very important questions. First he asked "who are you, Lord", which acknowledged that the one shining the light on him was his Lord; then he asked, "what should I do?" Paul knew that he needed to commit his life completely to this master and he needed to followed whatever the master commanded him. Therefore, as soon as He met the Lord, he committed his life to Him and had a clear vision. Second, Paul had a clear mission. God clearly told him through Ananias that he was going to become the apostle for the gentiles. God gave him a mission of pioneering - Not in Jerusalem or Antioch, but going where the gospel was never preached. God entrusted a clear mission of becoming the apostle for the gentiles. Third, Paul had a clear motivation. In Romans chapter one, he said that he felt obligated or indebted to the non-believers of the time. When someone indebted is chased after by creditors, he will tried hard to repay. When Paul said that he felt indebted, he felt that the non-believers were chasing after him, compelling him to preach the gospel to them. When he was in Lystra, he was almost beaten to death and dragged out of the city for preaching the gospel, but even then he went back into the city as soon as he woke up. Brothers and sisters, you need to have clear vision, motivation and mission so that you won't feel drained in your ministry, and you will be able to keep on serving God until you see Him face to face. Pray with Pastor Tong Liu 
Lord, we thank you because you are our vision, motivation and mission. As we serve you, we ask that you open our eyes to see your glorious beauty so that we will follow you closely. Let us not be hindered by circumstances or feel sad about discouraging things, but let us only focus on you. We will be empowered in our ministry because of you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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