I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

There is a growing trend in this day and age to regard life with little value. People thoughtlessly place themselves in harm's way by indulging in the perils of drug abuse. The proliferation of suicide indicates a groundswell of contempt for the value of life. There is little regard for the preciousness of other people's lives. Cruel, senseless murders are reported in every newscast. Minor irritations prompt ruthless homicide on our streets.

But life is a gift from the hand of God. Its worth is surpassed only by our new life in Christ and our everlasting life at God's side in heaven. Christians cherish life most highly and protect it vigorously. But Paul suggests that even so valuable a gift as life is nothing unless it is enriched by what we do with it. No end of possibilities exists. People who have no appreciation for the value of life are themselves a magnificent field for the investment of our lives. To confer new value on them by loving them, by sharing with them the discovery that they are "precious in God's sight," by taking them hand-in-hand to Calvary and showing them the love of God in Christ Jesus -- all these things maximize their worth. Life assumes it greatest value if we complete the task that Christ Jesus gives us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us complete the task you give us, in Jesus' name. Amen.

(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 96-98    Acts 17:1-15

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