From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. When they came to him, he said to them:

"You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace."

"And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again…"

Acts 20:17-25

It is God’s word of grace that encourages us to continue in faith, for it tells us that He is able to strengthen us until the end of our lives. So let’s keep walking and trusting as we pray.

The race of life is run by faith and won by grace.

Our Daily Bread – June 30, 2004