Bible Reading: Acts 20
Acts 20:36-38 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
While at Miletus, Paul called for the elders of the Ephesian church. He was on his way to Jerusalem and wanted to encourage them and warn them before he left. Paul had experienced much difficulty in making disciples. He was constantly plagued by legalism and license. Some wanted to put new believers back up under the law and some wanted to live just like the lost world. (Not much has changed!) Before he left, he knelt and prayed with them and they wept. We need to focus on the reason for their weeping.
The elders wept because Paul told them they would see his face no more. This is understandable since Paul had spent three years preaching and teaching them. They loved Paul and he was a spiritual mentor to them. However, they should have been weeping for themselves. Part of Paul’s warning to them was this:
Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
False doctrine and false teachers were coming. These heresies would come from the church they were a part of. This is what they should have sorrowed most of all about. Yes, it was hard to see Paul leave, but wolves among the flock would be a devastation that the church might not recover from.
We should all heed the words of Paul here in Acts 20:28. Those who are responsible for preaching and teaching the Bible need to be sound in the faith and solid in Biblical doctrine. Pastors need to take heed to themselves and to all the flock. Being an elder is a holy calling and care should be taken to make sure wolves don’t get in among the sheep.
What do you sorrow most about? There is nothing wrong with sorrowing at the end of good relationships, but be sure you heed the warnings God gives you!
In Christ,
Rody
