It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Paul knows what Jesus says well enough to quote Him. Paul is a good student of the Teacher. He pays attention to what Jesus says and tries to pattern his life after Him.
And like Jesus, Paul is living the sacrificial and joyful life of a giver. Devoting his life to serving others!
Here, he charges the elders from the church in Ephesus to be faithful in their service as shepherds in the church.
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
This is God’s plan for the church. Elders! Mature men who can serve others as examples of what it means to follow Jesus. And as teachers in the church!
As he says goodbye to these elders, he reminds them of his own lifestyle, the way he lived during the time he was with them.
He reminds them of the importance of preaching to others about the kingdom of God. He asks them to be on guard against those who might distort the truth of Jesus and lead people astray.
And Paul reminds of the importance of working in order to support their own families and to help others in need.
You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak…
When he had said this, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment