Theme Week: Paul in Review: Acts 20
Old Testament: Job 40-42
Poetry: Psalm 48
Goodbyes are hard. This week I gathered with a lot of people that I love. First at General Conference in Oregon, IL. I was gathered for 3 days with people that I love. Some are my biological family- My Mother, sisters, brother-in-law, uncle, cousins, sons and daughters, and sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. My wife was also there, while not biologically related she is my family and the one I love most in this world. Then there were friends, fellow members of the Church, pastors, and other. Colleagues, people I’ve met through years of ministry. Some I’ve known for over 40 years and they are part of my extended Church family that I love as brothers and sisters. At the end of our conference, it was time to say goodbye. I hope to see all of them again, but realistically, some of them I may never see again in this age and that makes me sad.
Right after the conference we had another gathering, a family gathering to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. We had family come from across the US and across the world including my daughter from Germany and niece from New Zealand. I saw cousins I had not seen in over 40 years and met their grandchildren. We had a wonderful celebration. But then we had to say goodbye as we all left to return to our various homes. It will be months and years and possibly for some we will never see each other again in this age, and that makes me sad.
What if you knew you would never see a group of people that you love again? What would you be thinking about and wanting to say as you said goodbye to them?
In Acts 20 the Apostle Paul is saying goodbye to a group of leaders from a Church he helped build in Ephesus. He had spent three years of his life teaching, baptizing, training, encouraging, and correcting these people. He loved them as brothers and sisters. God had revealed to Paul that he would never see these people again in this age, and that made him sad. As he said goodbye to them he gives us some insight into what things were important to him and how he had lived when he was with them and encouraged them to continue in the faith.
Paul reminded them, and us, how he served the Lord. Paul had been religious all of his life. He was an observant Jew who faithfully abided by all ceremonial and purification rituals of the Jewish faith. He was a descendant of Abraham through Jacob and a meticulous observer of the Torah, which is the Old Testament Covenant Practices. Yet all those things didn’t get him to where he truly wanted and needed to be. Something was missing. That something, as it turned out, was a relationship with God as His father that was given as a gift of grace through entering into a covenant with God by faith in Jesus Christ. Out of that new relationship with God through grace by faith in Jesus Christ came Paul’s understanding of himself and his mission. Everything he did was in service to the Lord.
Paul served with humility. He knew that his call and commissioning did not originate with him and was not based on his merit but on God’s grace. While he was not shy about claiming and using his authority as one sent by God (an apostle) Paul used that authority humbly.
Paul did not serve God at a distance. He was down in the front lines of battle where the true spiritual warfare was taking place. Paul was often harmed both emotionally and physically. He reminds his hearers that he served them with tears and trials.
Paul discipled them by teaching a total way of life in Jesus Christ. His teaching was not detached and theoretical, but practical. Paul says that he taught anything profitable (vs. 20 ESV). Paul taught the whole counsel of God (vs.27). He didn’t just talk about a few narrow subjects that were most important to him. For Paul following Jesus Christ impacts every area of your life. There is no sacred vs. secular, religious vs. non-religious. Jesus Christ is just as much a part of your schooling, your job, your friendships, your marriage, your family, and your sex life as he is part of what you do at 11:00 on Sunday Mornings.
Paul carried out his service for Christ in both public and personal spaces. Whether he was in a large, organized group or in someone’s private home with one or two persons, Paul was about his mission. In those spaces Paul emphasized the importance of repentance (turning away from sin and turning toward Jesus Christ as Lord), Paul emphasized faith as a way to access Jesus Christ.
Paul placed his whole person into his service. He was passionate in offering admonishment (correction) with tears. (Vs. 31). Training others in following Jesus Christ includes a lot of encouragement and positive reinforcement, but it also includes the hard work of correcting both incorrect beliefs and behaviors. Paul elsewhere talks about “speaking the truth in love.” There is a loving way to speak even hard and corrective truth, but it is hard work and Paul did not shy away from hard work. Paul reminded them of the many ways that he worked hard among them.
Paul concludes his parting words by showing the value of working hard to help the weak. The Christian’s job is not to shame the weak or guilt the weak, it’s not to judge the weak or berate the weak, but to help the weak. This requires a great deal of altruistic love and willingness to patiently and sacrificially give. Paul concludes with a reminder of Jesus’ own words on the value of giving over receiving. (Vs. 35).
At the end of this passionate reminder of his life and teaching among them, they are all in tears as Paul gets down on his knees with them and prays.
-Jeff Fletcher
Reflection Questions
- If you were preparing to say goodbye to your brothers and sisters in Christ, what would you want to make sure they heard from you?
- What are you most impressed with what Paul shares with the Ephesians?
- What do you think Paul might say to your church if he was saying goodbye to you instead of the Ephesians?
Seek Grow Love 