Serving with Faith and Confidence
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Key Verse: “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Selected Scripture: |
IN TODAY’S LESSON WE find Paul at Miletus. He had wanted to stop in Ephesus but desired to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost. Much was on the mind of Paul. The Holy Spirit had witnessed to him in every city that bonds and afflictions were waiting for him in Jerusalem. (Acts 20:22,23) At Miletus he sent a letter to Ephesus asking the elders to meet him there for a conference. (Acts 20:17) It was his desire that his brethren be aware that one of the concomitants of service was trouble and persecution. (Matt. 10:16-19; Acts 14:22) The apostle desired that his brethren realize that his ministry had been accomplished with humility, and through manifold testing and many tears, teaching publicly from house to house. His message had always been “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Acts 20:19-21
Was Paul afraid of the bonds and afflictions awaiting him? His words to the brethren from Ephesus indicate otherwise, as he said, ‘None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.’—Acts 20:24
When we ponder these words we are reminded of the apostle’s words to us in the book of Romans. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Rom. 8:35-39, New International Version
Paul was not afraid of death, nor fearful of persecution. However, he knew he would not see them again, and his wish was that they know that he was innocent of the blood of all, that he had ministered all of God’s message of truth.—Acts 20:26,27
All who are ministers of God’s Word, need to remember the admonition to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) The apostle knew that after his death, there would be those who would enter in like wolves, not sparing the flock. There would come false teachers, “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”—Acts 20:29-30
In his parting words, Paul commended the brethren to God’s grace again, saying, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.” (Acts 20:33) He said he worked to provide his sustenance. Now, as he told them to support the weak, they all kneeled down and prayed with him.—Acts 20:35,36