“When he had said
this, he knelt down with all of [the Ephesian elders] and prayed.... What
grieved them most was that they would never see his face again. Then they
accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:36-38
[To read today’s entire text, Acts 20:13-38, click here.]
One of my (few) favorite things about airports is watching families eagerly anticipate the arrival of loved ones and then joyfully greet them with smiles, hugs and kisses. Even stoic handshakes between father and son are strengthened in the silent speech of admiration and affirmation, and warmed in the moisture that brims their eyes.
The Apostle Paul was big on greetings. Really big on them! Not only did Paul begin his letters with an elaborate “hello,” he was still scribbling out greetings as he closed them! “Greet Priscilla and Aquila ... Epenetus ... the churches in Asia ... all the saints ... Andronicus ... Archippus ...” It was as though he held a fun-loving “hi” quill in his left hand that trailed behind and undid all the responsible work of the “bye” quill in his right hand. “And by the way, Epaphras says to say ‘hi’ ... and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.” It’s a good thing the churches didn't have phones back then, because this guy would never hang up! “Oh, and tell Onesiphorus ...”
But now his time on earth was nearing the end. It was time for this “Paul-mart” greeter to say farewell. And it was time for this leader to leave the Ephesian elders one more life lesson: how to pass the baton. Let's learn from his example ...
Paul identified and removed the obvious distraction to his message. Wherever he went, he had been warned about the hardships that awaited him in Jerusalem. Anticipating the same concern in the minds of the elders, Paul took the initiative to name it and address it. Whatever he had to say to them would be heard.
Paul relied his “full body of work” as credibility for his final instruction. Having led a life of faith and obedience, Paul’s integrity was not a question, but rather an inspiration. Whatever he had to say to the elders would be trusted.
Paul cautioned the elders and committed them to God: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock.... Be shepherds of the church.... Be on your guard!” Whatever their leadership status, it would pale compared to their leadership responsibility.
Paul knelt down with the elders and prayed. And what could be more important? For there is nothing more unifying ... nothing more comforting ... nothing more clarifying ... and nothing more powerful ... than prayer. Whatever these leaders asked of God in faith would be done.
Paul moved on. The baton had been passed. There was no need to look back, no need to second-guess, no need to fret. Whatever unknowns lay ahead of him, he was going forward ...
... to a place where there are no “bye” quills … only “hi” quills.
[To read today’s entire text, Acts 20:13-38, click here.]
One of my (few) favorite things about airports is watching families eagerly anticipate the arrival of loved ones and then joyfully greet them with smiles, hugs and kisses. Even stoic handshakes between father and son are strengthened in the silent speech of admiration and affirmation, and warmed in the moisture that brims their eyes.
The Apostle Paul was big on greetings. Really big on them! Not only did Paul begin his letters with an elaborate “hello,” he was still scribbling out greetings as he closed them! “Greet Priscilla and Aquila ... Epenetus ... the churches in Asia ... all the saints ... Andronicus ... Archippus ...” It was as though he held a fun-loving “hi” quill in his left hand that trailed behind and undid all the responsible work of the “bye” quill in his right hand. “And by the way, Epaphras says to say ‘hi’ ... and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.” It’s a good thing the churches didn't have phones back then, because this guy would never hang up! “Oh, and tell Onesiphorus ...”
But now his time on earth was nearing the end. It was time for this “Paul-mart” greeter to say farewell. And it was time for this leader to leave the Ephesian elders one more life lesson: how to pass the baton. Let's learn from his example ...
Paul identified and removed the obvious distraction to his message. Wherever he went, he had been warned about the hardships that awaited him in Jerusalem. Anticipating the same concern in the minds of the elders, Paul took the initiative to name it and address it. Whatever he had to say to them would be heard.
Paul relied his “full body of work” as credibility for his final instruction. Having led a life of faith and obedience, Paul’s integrity was not a question, but rather an inspiration. Whatever he had to say to the elders would be trusted.
Paul cautioned the elders and committed them to God: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock.... Be shepherds of the church.... Be on your guard!” Whatever their leadership status, it would pale compared to their leadership responsibility.
Paul knelt down with the elders and prayed. And what could be more important? For there is nothing more unifying ... nothing more comforting ... nothing more clarifying ... and nothing more powerful ... than prayer. Whatever these leaders asked of God in faith would be done.
Paul moved on. The baton had been passed. There was no need to look back, no need to second-guess, no need to fret. Whatever unknowns lay ahead of him, he was going forward ...
... to a place where there are no “bye” quills … only “hi” quills.
1 comment:
This is fabulous, perhaps your best post yet. You have such a way with words that paint a picture I can see in my mind. Well done!
Your thoughts have helped me to engage in these verses more than usually. Thanks, Paul.
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