Our devotion, today, will be short, but challenging. It comes from Acts 20:24, where Paul says these words to the elders in Ephesus:
But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace (NRSV).
Paul felt that nothing was more important, in his life, than his relationship with the Lord and the mission that came out of that relationship. His identity and value was determined by this relationship and mission. His relationship with the Lord was his identity and the mission was his focus.
So, often our identity is defined by the things of this world. How much money do you have? How big is your home? How secure if your 401(k)? What sport team do you root for? What Paul reminds us is that none of these things brings us to a sense of true inner peace. In fact, they all often leave us wanting for more – more stuff, more things, more of everything.
Some questions for you: What are your defined by? What or who defines your identity?
Shannon Blosser 