UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Friday, May 30, 2025

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I Do Not Consider My Life of Any Value: A Devotional on Acts 20:24

Living With One Goal—To Finish the Work Given by the Lord Jesus

Acts 20:24 captures a climactic moment in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. In his farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus around 57 C.E., Paul expresses his resolve to complete the mission entrusted to him, even at the cost of his own life. He was returning to Jerusalem, knowing imprisonment awaited him, yet he remained unwavering.

The verse reads:
“Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any value to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God.”

This powerful declaration is more than an individual statement. It reflects a mindset every faithful believer must cultivate—a life that finds value only in accomplishing what God has assigned. Paul was not driven by comfort, reputation, or survival. He was compelled by his calling, and he willingly laid everything else aside for the sake of finishing his course.

The Context: Paul’s Final Words to the Ephesian Elders

Paul had spent about three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31), laboring daily to teach, correct, and strengthen the church. On his return journey toward Jerusalem, he stopped at Miletus, a coastal city south of Ephesus, and summoned the elders of the church to meet him there.

Knowing that he would not see them again in this life (Acts 20:25), he delivered a heartfelt address. He reminded them of his manner of life—serving with humility, enduring trials, and faithfully preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:18–21, 27). He warned them about future threats and charged them to shepherd the flock with vigilance (Acts 20:28–30).

In the midst of this emotional farewell, he made the declaration of Acts 20:24, revealing the driving purpose of his life.

“Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any value to me…”

The Greek phrasing here (οὐδενὸς λόγου ποιοῦμαι τὴν ψυχὴν) literally means “I make my life of no account” or “I do not esteem it as worthy.” Paul does not mean that life is meaningless. Rather, he refuses to measure its value by safety, ease, or preservation. His life was not something to protect at the expense of the mission. If finishing his course required pain, rejection, imprisonment, or death, so be it.

This is the heart of biblical discipleship. Jesus said:
“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 16:25

Paul took this seriously. For him, life was not measured in years, but in faithfulness to God’s assignment. He counted even his physical safety as expendable if it meant completing the task he had received.

This mindset must be recaptured today. Too often, Christians are tempted to value health, prosperity, or popularity more than obedience. But Paul’s example teaches that life has value only when it is spent in full service to Christ.

“…if only I may finish my course…”

The metaphor here is athletic—a racecourse (δρόμος, dromos) that must be completed. Paul saw his life as a race marked out by God, with a clear beginning and a definite end. Success was not in how he started, but in whether he would finish faithfully.

He would later write:
“I have fought the fine fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7

Paul did not choose his course. It was assigned by God. His role was to run it, not to redesign it. He did not pursue personal ambition but remained devoted to the lane assigned to him by the Lord.

This picture of life as a race teaches the believer to:

Persevere through hardship, knowing the goal lies ahead.
Stay in your lane, fulfilling your unique calling without comparison.
Pace yourself wisely, remembering that the race is not a sprint, but a lifelong journey of obedience.
Focus on the finish, not the distractions on the side.

“…and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus…”

The word “ministry” (διακονία, diakonia) refers to service, not status. Paul understood that his mission was entrusted to him by Christ, not crafted by personal preference. He did not invent his calling. He received it—freely, solemnly, and with full responsibility.

This service included:

Preaching to Jews and Gentiles alike (Acts 9:15),
Suffering for the name of Christ (Acts 9:16),
Strengthening the churches (Acts 14:22),
Defending the truth from false teachers (Galatians 1:6–9),
Teaching sound doctrine to believers (Titus 2:1), and
Raising up faithful men who would teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

Every believer has a ministry—not necessarily apostolic, but real nonetheless. Whether teaching, encouraging, giving, serving, or leading, every gift must be exercised for the glory of God and the edification of the church (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

The ministry is not a career, not a platform, and not a performance. It is service entrusted by the Lord, to be carried out with fear, humility, and faithfulness.

“…to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God.”

Here Paul identifies the central content of his ministry: to testify to the gospel. The Greek verb used—διαμαρτύρασθαι (diamarturasthai)—means to testify earnestly or thoroughly, like one giving solemn witness under oath. This was not casual speech. It was serious, urgent proclamation.

What was he testifying about? The good news of the undeserved kindness of God.

This phrase highlights two essential truths:

The gospel is good news—the message that, through Jesus, God offers salvation to sinners through faith, not merit.
This salvation is an expression of God’s undeserved kindness—His unmerited favor, not earned or deserved by man.

Paul never preached self-improvement or religious moralism. He preached the cross—the death and resurrection of Jesus as the only means by which sinful man could be reconciled to a holy God (1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:2). He called men to repent, to believe, and to obey the gospel (Acts 26:20).

The Modern Application: Living With Eternal Purpose

Paul’s words in Acts 20:24 provide a model for every believer. This is not just an apostle’s farewell; it is a call to live with singular purpose. In an age obsessed with comfort, autonomy, and self-preservation, we must remember:

Life’s value is found in doing God’s will
You are not your own (1 Corinthians 6:19). Your life has value only to the extent that it serves God’s purposes.
Every believer has a race to finish
Whether your role is seen or hidden, public or private, long or short, you have a course to complete. Run faithfully.
Ministry is a stewardship, not a spotlight
It is not about prestige. It is about obedience. Every assignment—whether serving, suffering, or speaking—is entrusted by Christ.
The gospel is the heart of all faithful service
Whatever you do, ensure that the message of Christ’s undeserved kindness is central, clear, and proclaimed.
Eternal reward outweighs temporal suffering
Paul did not fear affliction because he looked beyond it. He was motivated by the joy of pleasing the Master (2 Corinthians 4:17–18; Philippians 3:14).

Conclusion: A Life Not Wasted

Acts 20:24 is a declaration of life laid down, not wasted. Paul’s priorities were clear. He did not cling to comfort or reputation. He fixed his eyes on the finish line—and ran hard.

“Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any value to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God.”

May every faithful Christian echo these words. May we finish our course with joy, not regret. And may we spend our days not seeking safety, but fulfilling the mission given by the One who bought us with His blood.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).