Discipleship

Acts 20: 29-38

“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.”

Paul, knowing that imprisonment and suffering awaited him in Jerusalem, and that he would never return to the churches he founded, was worried about them.  He warned all the elders of Ephesus not to be misled by false teachings or false leaders.  He asked that they remember the words and teachings of Christ.  Before he left them they prayed together.

From Paul’s last words to the church at Ephesus we learn that Christian discipleship means that 

1. we are life-long students of Christ’s life and His teachings, so that we cannot be mislead with false teachings; 

2. we are people of service who put the needs of others before our own, reaching out to the least, the last and the lost; 

3. We are people of prayer who are moved, changed and empowered by the presence and grace of God.

4. and we are people who love God and others, who show our love through our words and deeds.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)