A Great Legacy

Acts 20:17-38

 I’m struck by Paul's deeply personal tone, as he bids farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus.  He had been with them for three years; with tears and trials; with them the whole time; night and day; teaching publicly and house-to-house.  He tells them that they will see his face no more, leaving them in tears.  He commends them to God.  He prays with them before he leaves. 

And yet, he also reminds them of things he did not do, while with them:

Ë Did not shrink from sharing what was profitable

Ë Did not shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God

Ë Did not cease to admonish each one

Oh my!  He was not afraid to remind them of his relentless pursuit of molding and shaping their leadership.  He was not afraid to “speak the truth in love”(Ephesians 4:15).  We have become somewhat of a fearful bunch, us Christians- we don’t want to offend anyone.  And so, we offend our God instead.  We shrink from sharing the truth and declaring God’s purposes and admonishing one another.  Instead, we obfuscate the truth, tone down the difficult providence of God and placate egos. I need others to be willing to point out to me where I’m wrong; to lovingly point me back to the cross.  I need a true spirit of humility to speak to others when they have moved away from the gospel.  If, however, I speak from a place of pride, I’d best not speak at all.  Taking the beam out of my own eye should occupy me for a long enough time that I may even forget about the speck in someone else’s eye.

Paul, he had earned the right to speak.  He loved them well.  He was not on a witch-hunt, sussing out those believers who were disobedient.  On the contrary, he was reminding these church leaders that they could be easily fooled if they were not alert.  If they did not guard against falsehood and “savage wolves,” the flock would be scattered and destroyed.  He reminds them that it’s really all about Jesus: “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God,” (v.24) and he says that he was “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks, of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”(v.21)

Solemn is not a word often seen in direct connection to the gospel, but Paul links them here, twice.  Is it not a solemn thing that Jesus actually died on a cross, to deliver us from the penalty of sin and give us new life?  Is it not a solemn thing that people reject this and find themselves at the edge of eternity, with no Saviour?  Is it not a solemn thing when a fellow believer is in open public sin and we dare not love them enough to speak with them, to admonish them?

 “And now I commend you to God,” he says, “and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (v.32).  Precious words of encouragement, from a man who knew that his own road ahead would be marked with more trials and more tears.  In his final words, he quoted Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (v.35)  He loved them to the end, with a lasting legacy that was personal, powerful and practical. 

  Will I share what’s profitable?  

Will I declare the whole purpose of God?  

Will I admonish when necessary?  

Will I give encouraging words and solemn words?