David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 20:28-38

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 Iknow 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.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders is a most remarkable look into the heart of a hero of the gospel. As such it is both inspiring and humbling. On the one hand I see an example of someone who is sold out to the mission of God: doing all that he can, whatever the cost, no matter the pain, even at his own expense. On the other hand I am aware of my own shortcomings in the cause of the Gospel – almost to the point of shame.

I can claim some of the same things Paul claims here to be sure. I have coveted no one’s money or wardrobe. I have worked hard wherever I have served. I believe and seek to live out Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” But Paul has done these things in the face of overwhelming opposition, persecution, and even physical suffering. I’ve never been threatened with physical harm. I’ve not been put into prison. Nor have I ministered on the road for more than two weeks. I certainly have never left any group of people whom I have served, saying I would never see their face again.

Paul’s commitment to the mission of God is lived out at a whole other level than mine. Inspiring? Yes, but for me (at least initially) more humbling than inspiring. But as I considered all this, I thought also of the Ephesian elders, and the people in Ephesus, the church in Antioch (the first missionary-sending church), and all the people who are part of the mission of God in Paul’s day. I put myself in the place of each of them and find a bit more of a comforting and encouraging place in the mission of God.

God didn’t convert me by throwing me to the ground and blinding me. He didn’t say of me, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). God did call me to play my own unique role in the mission of God – just as he calls each of us to our own unique place and purpose. Thank God for that!

Our dedication to the cause of the Gospel is best lived out in our own circumstance and calling. We do well to thank God for those extraordinary servants of of Christ, even as we take up our calling as ordinary servants of Christ. In the end, we ordinary and extraordinary share the privilege of being part of God’s work in the world. My contribution may not be nearly as great as yours or someone else’s. But we each play a part. Thank God for those who serve – in ordinary and in extraordinary ways!