Paul was preparing for the inevitable. One can almost sense the urgency in Paul’s tone as he addresses the Elders at the Church in Ephesus. Ephesus seemed to be the anchor church for missionary work that God accomplished through Paul. History seems to confirm that as the church was later pastored by John the beloved disciple.
Paul reaffirms his commitment to the elders and only promises them one thing–he would never see them again. What a blow that must have been. Still during that, Paul warns the men to be ready, their success would inevitably mean the enemy would attack and try to disrupt and destroy them. They needed to cling to the truth that they learned, prepare for battle, and stand firm when that battle commenced.
In our current world, we should live as though we were sitting in on Paul’s farewell address. Rest assured, the enemy is coming at the church and God’s chosen with guns a blazing. Israel is under attack from its enemies, and its only friend is standing in the wings doing nothing. Congress continues to chip away at our ability to worship freely and defend ourselves. These are reminders to us that we need not get comfortable in our freedom and prosperity. Instead, we need to wake each day, put on our spiritual armor, and stand ready for battle.
Such preparation for the inevitable is not a sign of fear, it is a sign of wisdom and faith that God, not men, will dictate the outcome. We can never grow tired of prayer, nor fearful of trials and temptations. Like Paul, we need only walk forward and trust the Lord to execute His plan perfectly in His timeframe!
God Bless You
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news 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. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood.[b] 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So 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. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In 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.’ ”
36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.