Acts 20 - 1.24.23
SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:36 - 38 "After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving most of all over his statements that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship."
OBSERVATION: There is no doubt that Paul loved his brothers and sisters in Christ. He cared for them, prayed with them, comforted them, encouraged them, cried over their needs, and rejoiced with them. The entire time he was with them in the province of Asia, he had served the Lord with humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of his Jewish opponents. He never hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to them as he taught them publicly and from house to house. When it was time for Paul to move on and head for Jerusalem as he followed the lead of the Holy Spirit, he told the Ephesian elders that his only aim was to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.
UNDERSTANDING: As Paul prepared to set sail, he knew they would never see his face again. He had poured his heart and soul into their lives. He left them with powerful words that the Lord Jesus had given him, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." All that Paul had learned from the Lord was passed down to the leaders and elders of the church. Then Paul committed them to God and to the word of His grace.
LIFE APPLICATION: Paul taught the importance of developing close relationships within the body of Christ. He showed family affection to one another with brotherly love. (Romans 12:10a), He taught how to outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10b). And he demonstrated how to accept one another. (Romans 15:7).
I pray the body of Christ will see the value in developing deep and lasting relationships with one another, and that it won't be just practiced by the leaders of the Church, but among all the believers.
- Robin Orefice
