We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Miletus visiting with the leaders from the church in Ephesus one last time. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.
Acts 20
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33 I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.
Goodbye. It amazes me how strategically God works. For the past 35 years, there is a family that has made a major impact on my life. The mom and dad were like second parents to me. The son was my best friend through high school and beyond. The daughter was the sister I never had. I would not be who I am today if God hadn't strategically placed them in my life. Almost four months ago on this blog, we began following the journey of the church as it first began. Today (of all days), we come to a scene were Paul must say goodbye for the last time to a group of friends he has shared his journey with. This weekend, I will say goodbye to my friends. The journey of life has already led the son and daughter out of town; but now the mom and dad are leaving too ... and with them the main reason my friends return to our small home town. Like Paul's friends, I am saddened by the fact that I will probably never see them again; but also like Paul's friends, I am grateful for the faithful examples they have lived out for so many years. Thank you. Goodbye.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Distort
We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Miletus visiting with the leaders from the church in Ephesus one last time. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.
Acts 20
”25 And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock - his church, purchased with his own blood - over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you - my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”
Distort. It is amazing how quickly and cleverly truth can be distorted. You only have to go back to the temptation of Jesus (check out Matthew 4:1-11) to see how clever Satan is at distorting God’s truth. He even had the audacity to use scripture to try and mislead Jesus. This is probably why Jesus called him the “father of lies” (check out John 8:42-47). Interestingly (considering Paul’s warning), Jesus made that statement in the midst of reprimanding a group of church leaders. Later on, we will learn that the Ephesians were ultimately able to hold off these distortions (check out Revelation 2:1-7); but in the process they seemed to have lost sight of love (seriously, check out Revelation 2:1-7). It is extremely important for us to know the story of God so that we can protect ourselves from distortions of the truth; but at the same time we can never lose sight of love. Paul would later write that we need to “speak the truth in love”. Ironically, he included it in his letter to the Ephesians (check out Ephesians 4:15) ... maybe we can do a better job of taking it to heart ... in what we say and what we do.
Acts 20
”25 And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock - his church, purchased with his own blood - over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you - my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”
Distort. It is amazing how quickly and cleverly truth can be distorted. You only have to go back to the temptation of Jesus (check out Matthew 4:1-11) to see how clever Satan is at distorting God’s truth. He even had the audacity to use scripture to try and mislead Jesus. This is probably why Jesus called him the “father of lies” (check out John 8:42-47). Interestingly (considering Paul’s warning), Jesus made that statement in the midst of reprimanding a group of church leaders. Later on, we will learn that the Ephesians were ultimately able to hold off these distortions (check out Revelation 2:1-7); but in the process they seemed to have lost sight of love (seriously, check out Revelation 2:1-7). It is extremely important for us to know the story of God so that we can protect ourselves from distortions of the truth; but at the same time we can never lose sight of love. Paul would later write that we need to “speak the truth in love”. Ironically, he included it in his letter to the Ephesians (check out Ephesians 4:15) ... maybe we can do a better job of taking it to heart ... in what we say and what we do.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Worth
We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Miletus visiting with the leaders from the church in Ephesus one last time. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.
Acts 20
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike - the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.“
Worth. What are you worth? Some people might respond with a dollar amount. Some might respond with a reference to their family. Some might respond with a list of vocational abilities and accomplishments. In this part of the story, Paul relocates the origin of worth. Your worth doesn’t come from a bank account or a relationship or a job. Your worth comes from using your bank account, your relationships and your abilities ... your life ... to serve God. What can you do today to improve your worth?
Acts 20
13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike - the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.“
Worth. What are you worth? Some people might respond with a dollar amount. Some might respond with a reference to their family. Some might respond with a list of vocational abilities and accomplishments. In this part of the story, Paul relocates the origin of worth. Your worth doesn’t come from a bank account or a relationship or a job. Your worth comes from using your bank account, your relationships and your abilities ... your life ... to serve God. What can you do today to improve your worth?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Asleep
We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Troas. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.
Acts 20
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Asleep. A lot of people use this part of the story to crack a joke about long-winded preachers ... maybe you have met one, or two. I think there is something deeper in this story ... an illustration that counters our instinctive desire for comfort and security. Please don’t miss understand me, I don’t think Jesus has anything against us being safe. The problem is when that sense of safety figuratively lulls us to sleep spiritually causing us to make poor choices (check out the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11). Eutychus was participating in a good event, in a good place, surround by good people. There was nothing wrong with what he was doing; but like Eutychus, all that goodness (all that safety) can actually lull us into a dangerous mindset where we make bad decisions. Jesus warned his disciples to stay alert and keep watch. I encourage you to check out Mark 13 tonight before you fall asleep.
Acts 20
7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved.
Asleep. A lot of people use this part of the story to crack a joke about long-winded preachers ... maybe you have met one, or two. I think there is something deeper in this story ... an illustration that counters our instinctive desire for comfort and security. Please don’t miss understand me, I don’t think Jesus has anything against us being safe. The problem is when that sense of safety figuratively lulls us to sleep spiritually causing us to make poor choices (check out the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11). Eutychus was participating in a good event, in a good place, surround by good people. There was nothing wrong with what he was doing; but like Eutychus, all that goodness (all that safety) can actually lull us into a dangerous mindset where we make bad decisions. Jesus warned his disciples to stay alert and keep watch. I encourage you to check out Mark 13 tonight before you fall asleep.
Monday, August 18, 2008
With
We are following Paul’s third missionary journey. Last week, we read about a riot that brought confusion to the city of Ephesus. Today, we are going to pick up the story as it follows that riot. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.
Acts 20
1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
With. I appreciate the fact that Luke (the author of Acts) included this list of guys traveling with Paul. For many, this part of the story might seem like a waste of time to write and even read. I believe it reveals something far more important than a “ship’s manifest”. These guys were traveling with Paul for the sake of integrity. Paul throughout this third missionary journey was collecting money for believers in Jerusalem (check out Romans 15:25-27, a letter Paul wrote while on this third journey). Each guy represented a church or a community that had provided resources for this financial gift. Their presence, on this journey, would ultimately uphold and then provide testimony to Paul’s integrity and the integrity with which this gift had been handled. It might seem a little excessive to you and me to go to such lengths to maintain one’s integrity; but it didn’t to Paul ... and it probably shouldn’t to us. Who is “traveling” with you on your journey through life to uphold your integrity?
Acts 20
1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
With. I appreciate the fact that Luke (the author of Acts) included this list of guys traveling with Paul. For many, this part of the story might seem like a waste of time to write and even read. I believe it reveals something far more important than a “ship’s manifest”. These guys were traveling with Paul for the sake of integrity. Paul throughout this third missionary journey was collecting money for believers in Jerusalem (check out Romans 15:25-27, a letter Paul wrote while on this third journey). Each guy represented a church or a community that had provided resources for this financial gift. Their presence, on this journey, would ultimately uphold and then provide testimony to Paul’s integrity and the integrity with which this gift had been handled. It might seem a little excessive to you and me to go to such lengths to maintain one’s integrity; but it didn’t to Paul ... and it probably shouldn’t to us. Who is “traveling” with you on your journey through life to uphold your integrity?
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