I’ve passed some vintage treasures. Three years ago, I failed to purchase a large ironstone pitcher due to the price, yet I bought insignificant smalls. Recently, I failed to buy a vintage brass bell and again opted for smalls. I should’ve made the correct purchases, but no lasting damage was done.

More prevalent in my mind is that I should’ve been a better mother, I should’ve witnessed more, I should’ve been wiser with finances, and the should’ve list grows in my mind. I vow to do better, but my flesh leads me astray, and I don’t always do as I should.

The Apostal Paul felt the same. After converting to Christ, this man committed to serving the Lord. He continually professed and preached at the repeated risk of persecution. Paul and Silas cast demons from a fortune teller, which landed them in stocks and chains, yet they praised the Lord. God broke them free, and the Philippian jailer was saved. Paul reasoned with Governor Felix about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Felix trembled but told Paul to leave. He stated he would call for Paul at a more convenient time. Paul testified of his conversion before King Agrippa, who was almost persuaded to become a Christian. Paul was shipwrecked and landed on the isle of Melita where a Viper bit him. He shook off the snake and won the barbarous people to the Lord. Paul was later delivered to Rome, where he lived and witnessed from his provided home until his death.

I believe Paul didn’t pass many opportunities to live for his Lord. On the other hand, I have passed far more opportunities to live the treasured moments of proclaiming Christ. I’ve settled for the small moments of this world because I didn’t want to pay the price. We will be scrutinized and persecuted when we share our Savior, but that’s where true treasure lies. We’re here to win the lost at any cost because lasting damage is done to the sinner unprepared to meet God. They will spend eternity in Hell. Our inward person desires to witness, but our flesh wars against our mind to hinder us from this treasured purpose.    

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:22-24