Worth

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Miletus visiting with the leaders from the church in Ephesus one last time. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 20
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike - the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 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.“


Worth. What are you worth? Some people might respond with a dollar amount. Some might respond with a reference to their family. Some might respond with a list of vocational abilities and accomplishments. In this part of the story, Paul relocates the origin of worth. Your worth doesn’t come from a bank account or a relationship or a job. Your worth comes from using your bank account, your relationships and your abilities ... your life ... to serve God. What can you do today to improve your worth?