“I Served The Lord With Great Humility”

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 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.

Acts 20:17-20

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.’ ”

When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts 20:35-38

Paul may have felt lonely when he left the church at Ephesus. He had been there three years, and the elders were as close to Paul as his family had been. Now that Paul was headed to Jerusalem, he would not see them again.

Paul did have parting advice to them. Though they would no longer have Paul as their teacher, the Ephesians did not have to feel abandoned. God would continue to train them through “the word of his grace.” Unlike Paul, God would always be with them.

Whether it’s children we launch from the nest or other family and friends more far away – saying goodbye can be very difficult. They move beyond our influence and into their new lives. When we let go of their hands, we can trust that God has them in His. He can continue to shape their lives and meet their real needs – more than we ever could.

Though we’re far away from those we love, they are never far from God.

Our Daily Bread – September 25, 2017