David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 20:23-35

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God 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. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

The normal path forward for most people – career wise – is up the ladder of success. Stories of corporate success from mail room to executive suite are the stuff that inspires books and aspiring entrepreneurs. Those who have taken on the challenge of hardship or sacrificial action for the sake of others may be heroes, but they are the exception. More people can name the Heisman Trophy winner than the most recipient of the Medal of Honor, or the Army or Navy Cross.

Nevertheless Paul is moving toward Jerusalem, on a path toward imprisonment and afflictions. On the one hand this is a fulfillment of what was told of him by Jesus shortly after his conversion: “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). And as if that isn’t enough, he knows that his absence from the Ephesian Christians will allow “fierce wolves” to come in and attack the flock there.

It is inevitable: Paul will face trouble, hardship, suffering, and threats of many kinds. So why did he not opt out? Why would he move forward knowing that trouble stands before him and lurks to attack those he loves when he leaves them? Paul realized more than most – and he said this of us all – that we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Our lives belong to our Redeemer. And his redeemer was calling him forward into places of danger for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Paul was “constrained by the Spirit” to face these challenges.

Most – though not all – decisions I have made involved a move up the ladder. On every occasion of a move in my ministry I have either gone to a larger church, and often received a larger salary in the process. But moves are never easy, and in nearly 35 years of ministry I have faced some significant challenges. None of those challenges were as severer as Paul was to face.

This is not intended to be so much a source of guilt as it is to be a source of inspiration. Paul is a hero of faith, and an example of one who will follow Jesus wherever he leads. He does so as one who fully leans into Jesus’ words and promises. He is compelled not only by the command of Jesus, “Go…” but also by the promise of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

For Paul that meant giving his whole life to the service of Christ and his mission. That took him places that he would never otherwise have gone and into places of both danger and joy. But it never took him from Jesus’ presence, nor from his grace. Your calling and mine may not be as dramatic or far-reaching. But we are commended to “God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” That is a blessing for which I thank God.