Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 20
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 20
22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, 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.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
These are Paul’s last words to the Ephesian elders, not knowing if he would ever see them again. Paul sensed as he headed toward Jerusalem that only hardship would await him. You can only imagine the sense of grief the Ephesians felt as the one who had shared the Gospel as well as his very life, was now departing.
As Paul leaves, he shares his heart for them, and also his desire for the believers to be led by faithful shepherds. He realizes that with a void in leadership that there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing who will come in and try to destroy the flock. Paul uses his own example of selfless sacrifice to show the authenticity of the transformation the Gospel brings. Why else would he give everything for nothing other than the satisfaction of hearing His Father’s words, “Well done good and faithful servant”.
As Paul left, he realized he had done his part and the rest was up to God as he declares, “Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are being sanctified.” Our part is to share God’s Word, but God is the one who builds up and gives us His inheritance, which is all the riches of His glorious kingdom.
God of grace, we thank you for those who have shared the Good News with us. Help us to work to protect the churches we are part of, and to always encourage those in the body of Christ. We all need encouragement from each other as we live out this call you have set us apart for. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, 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.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
These are Paul’s last words to the Ephesian elders, not knowing if he would ever see them again. Paul sensed as he headed toward Jerusalem that only hardship would await him. You can only imagine the sense of grief the Ephesians felt as the one who had shared the Gospel as well as his very life, was now departing.
As Paul leaves, he shares his heart for them, and also his desire for the believers to be led by faithful shepherds. He realizes that with a void in leadership that there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing who will come in and try to destroy the flock. Paul uses his own example of selfless sacrifice to show the authenticity of the transformation the Gospel brings. Why else would he give everything for nothing other than the satisfaction of hearing His Father’s words, “Well done good and faithful servant”.
As Paul left, he realized he had done his part and the rest was up to God as he declares, “Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are being sanctified.” Our part is to share God’s Word, but God is the one who builds up and gives us His inheritance, which is all the riches of His glorious kingdom.
God of grace, we thank you for those who have shared the Good News with us. Help us to work to protect the churches we are part of, and to always encourage those in the body of Christ. We all need encouragement from each other as we live out this call you have set us apart for. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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