Saying Goodbye (1 of 2)

March 24

Read: Acts 20, focus on 17-38

In Acts 20 we have Paul’s final farewell to arguably his “favorite” disciples - the Ephesian Elders. (If nothing else, Paul spent a good bit of time there and sent them Timothy who was clearly his most cherished disciple) It is an interesting exercise to imagine what you would say as your final words to a group of people that you love. What advice would you give? What sort of encouragement? Would you even want to know if it was indeed your last time to see them?

Paul seems, at times, a little stoic to me. I suppose I would be too if “the Holy Spirit testifie(d) to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.” (v.23) Imagine going through life this way… walking into an appointment or moving to someplace new with the Holy Spirit telling you that “imprisonment and affliction” awaits you. For Paul, the Lord had primed him to expect the worst. The Holy Spirit was letting him know that the cost of these missionary journeys was his comfort. Paul had not always lived this way. He was a Roman citizen, a skilled tradesman, intellectually gifted, and probably affluent. As a result, it is reasonable to believe that he had many seasons of great comfort. These missionary journeys represented a new way of existing. These adventures came with a great cost. The crazy thing is, look at how Paul handles it: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (v.24) Paul is happy to have made the exchange. Paul embraces momentary suffering for the sake of eternal reward and blessing. Paul wouldn’t trade back his new life for his old life at all… not one bit.

Part of what Paul was saying to these elders is that life will have its seasons of trial and difficulty. When we endure those against the backdrop of our purpose and mission then those things become bearable. In fact, they lead us into a WILLINGNESS to press even deeper into the trials. This is in no way saying that life is miserable, it is simply acknowledging that it will have its trials… life is hard at times. There is no way to cope with the trials of life apart from a clear sense of meaning and purpose. The people of God are not exempt from this. It is only our purpose and mission in Christ that can temper our trials. I love how Paul says, “if only I may finish my course”. God has a “course” for you… a race to run. No one can run your race for you. Your race is a means of “testifying to the ‘good news’ of the grace of God.” There will be times we feel “constrained by the Holy Spirit”. (cf. v.22) God will not let us do what we want to do… even if it means doing something GOOD. (Paul wanted to tell people about Jesus… but he was not always allowed to travel to the cities he wanted to. cf. Acts 16:6) There will be times that we will sense the difficulty approaching, the Holy Spirit will give you a heads up. You need not be afraid. “…do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Paul knew the Ephesian elders needed to hear this truth!

How do YOU cope with the trials of life? Do you know that God has “good deeds set apart for you to do”? (cf. Eph. 2:10) Do you know he is working through YOU to call a people to himself. It will not always be hard. There are better days ahead. If we expect life to be easy at all times, we will be disappointed. (And if it was… we would be fragile and weak!) If we expect life to be miserable, we will become bitter and miss out on the gifts that God gives us… the JOY of his son. If you feel “CONSTRAINED” by the Spirit, do not worry - it is for the good of the Kingdom. As the people of God, we can endure a great deal when we are rooted in our true meaning. Paul knew he would not see his friends again. He knew these were his last words to them. He wanted them to know that he was ok with paying the price… that he was not going to run from the work the lord had for him. How about you? Are you running from it? Love you guys. - JDP