Even if I am poured out . . . ,I rejoice

Even if I am poured out . . . ,I rejoice. 

When Paul says he is being poured out, he means that he has given his life to the mission of spreading the gospel.   Now, as he writes from his prison cell, he is readying himself for his final act of pouring himself out:  giving up his life as a martyr.

We have all poured ourselves out at one time or another.   Maybe we were giving all of our time and energy to our job or to raising our family.   We may have been tirelessly caring for a loved one or serving in active duty in the military.   As demanding as it was, we did it willingly because we believed it was worth the sacrifice.

Paul felt the same way, and now, nearing the end of his life, he could see the fruits of his labor.   Through his missionary journeys, many had come to know the risen Christ.   The followers of Jesus weren’t perfect, but they were living in community, loving and supporting one another, and working, as he had, to spread the good news.   All of this, obviously, gave him cause to rejoice.   But Paul also rejoiced because his final goal was in sight:  life with Jesus in heaven.   Through all his struggles, Paul kept in mind the fact that someday he would be with the Lord forever.

It’s not easy to be poured out.   There are times when we feel so stretched that we lose our joy.   Exhaustion can get the best of us, and we fall into self-pity or complaining.   Then we are tempted to pull back, whether it’s from the work in front of us or from our desire to follow Jesus faithfully.   That’s exactly the right time to focus on our goals—including the ultimate goal of being with Jesus forever.

Here’s another reason to rejoice: eternal life starts now.   Paul experienced genuine joy as he wrote this letter from prison, and it was not just because he believed in the joy to come.   God was filling him with joy right in his prison cell.   So today, whatever your circumstances, ask the Lord to do the same for you.   Believe that he is with you now, just as he will be with you for all of eternity.

Word Among Us