Letting Go and Letting God
Opening Prayer
Thank You for today. Help me to fix my eyes on You and to bring Your light to everyone I encounter.
Read Acts 20:25-38
[25] “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. [26] Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. [27] For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. [28] 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. [29] I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. [30] Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. [31] So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. [32] “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. [33] I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. [34] You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. [35] 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.’ ” [36] When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. [37] They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. [38] What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you share Paul's passion?Goodbyes are never easy. Paul knows he’s not going to see his beloved friends again. He has worked hard, over three years, to impart as much of God’s truth and wisdom to the church in Ephesus as he could–and it has cost him a great deal of energy and effort (31). When we have been entrusted with people who look up to us–as parents of children, as team leaders, as co-workers, as members of a congregation, as friends–it is hard to let them go. It’s tough to give up some semblance of control, and entrust them into the care of others or, worse still, their own care! Paul suffered particularly in this situation as he knew that as soon as he left there would be those who would begin undoing all his good works with distorted truths (30). We have to remember, as Paul did, that we are only ever trustees, or stewards, for God. He is the ruler over the hearts and minds of others. The power never really was in our hands.
Apply
Commit yourself to God’s Word and test everything against it. Encourage others to do the same.
Closing prayer
Lord, may I be able to say, as Paul, that I have been faithful to all You have called me to.
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