“’Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.’” Acts 20:28.
Among Paul’s final words to the elders at Ephesus, whom he loved so deeply, was this charge to “watch over” or to take care of the Ephesian people that God had given them. He reminded them that they were to shepherd the flock of God and that these people were owned by God, as they had been purchased with an extravagant price: His blood. God had given these elders the responsibility of caring for the people of the church. It is interesting to me that Paul encourages the elders take care of themselves, as well as the flock. It would be difficult to care for the people without taking care of themselves.
It seems that every year, when I arrive home from the Lake Champion Men’s Weekend, I am drained; physically and emotionally drained. I put so much into the weekend that it empties my emotional and physical tank. If I’m not more careful, I could become physically sick or emotional depressed (or both!) when I come home. I am still in the process of learning what are the activities that refill my tank. For instance, this past Sunday, my wife and I went for a leisurely hike along a stream. We enjoyed the peaceful surroundings and the color of the leaves during the changing season. It fed my soul! It prepared me for a difficult week ahead. I am better prepared to care for others more deeply. Paul’s word to the Ephesian elders applies to us today: “Keep watch over yourselves.”
Questions to consider: What are you doing to take care of yourself? Why should you be sure to take care of yourself? Have you found the things that you can do to fill your tank? When is the last time that you worked on filling your emotional tank? Your spiritual tank?
Prayer: Father, thank You for providing so many various ways for me to take care of myself. Help me to recognize when my tank is getting low and need to do what is necessary to fill it back up. Amen.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October 20, 2011 - Philippians 4:8-9
Here are a couple of verses from Paul’s writings that I would like for us to read through…slowly….taking time to realize how precious our lives really are; the amazing gift of life that God breaths into each of us. A dear friend reminded me of these verses that she holds dear to her during some very rough days.
Please take some time to reflect on these words.
“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.
Whatever you have learned
or received
or heard from me,
or seen in me –
put it into practice.
And the God of peace with be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Ask God to speak to your heart. Take some time from the busy-ness of our schedules to reflect on God’s life-giving words. Take some time to “think about such things.” Amen.
Please take some time to reflect on these words.
“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.
Whatever you have learned
or received
or heard from me,
or seen in me –
put it into practice.
And the God of peace with be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Ask God to speak to your heart. Take some time from the busy-ness of our schedules to reflect on God’s life-giving words. Take some time to “think about such things.” Amen.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
October 13, 2011 - Acts 20:24
“’However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.’” Acts 20:24.
Paul was expressing to the Ephesian elders something that had become such a deep part of who he was. He believed that his whole life was wrapped up in bringing Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord of All, to all people, Jews and Gentiles, in this known part of the world. This was not just giving an intellectual assent to following Jesus; it was the total thrust of Paul’s life and his total focus and involvement. He had staked his life on this, and nothing in life came anywhere close to being worthwhile to take its place. Not even life itself was as important to Paul as was bringing the message of salvation through Jesus to all people. He would not stop this mission for the remainder of his life. Jesus was truly Paul’s all in all.
I am deeply challenged to consider whether or not Jesus is my all in all. If that were so, I would not be concerned about what people, even my own family, would think of me. Fear would no longer have its grip on my life. Many other obstacles would no longer stand in the way. My only concern would be to love and to glorify God in each and every area of my life.
Questions to consider: What hinders you from having Jesus be your all in all? How do these hindrances keep you from wholeheartedly following Jesus? What steps can you take to move closer to following Jesus with all that you are? Are you willing to take that step?
Prayer: Father, I confess to You that I do not follow You with all that I am. I still hold things back. Please help me to lay these things aside and follow You wholeheartedly. Make me hungry and thirsty to see that being in Your presence is the only thing that will satisfy all of my needs. Help me to say, with all of my heart that which Paul stated: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race…the Lord has given me.” Amen.
Paul was expressing to the Ephesian elders something that had become such a deep part of who he was. He believed that his whole life was wrapped up in bringing Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord of All, to all people, Jews and Gentiles, in this known part of the world. This was not just giving an intellectual assent to following Jesus; it was the total thrust of Paul’s life and his total focus and involvement. He had staked his life on this, and nothing in life came anywhere close to being worthwhile to take its place. Not even life itself was as important to Paul as was bringing the message of salvation through Jesus to all people. He would not stop this mission for the remainder of his life. Jesus was truly Paul’s all in all.
I am deeply challenged to consider whether or not Jesus is my all in all. If that were so, I would not be concerned about what people, even my own family, would think of me. Fear would no longer have its grip on my life. Many other obstacles would no longer stand in the way. My only concern would be to love and to glorify God in each and every area of my life.
Questions to consider: What hinders you from having Jesus be your all in all? How do these hindrances keep you from wholeheartedly following Jesus? What steps can you take to move closer to following Jesus with all that you are? Are you willing to take that step?
Prayer: Father, I confess to You that I do not follow You with all that I am. I still hold things back. Please help me to lay these things aside and follow You wholeheartedly. Make me hungry and thirsty to see that being in Your presence is the only thing that will satisfy all of my needs. Help me to say, with all of my heart that which Paul stated: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race…the Lord has given me.” Amen.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
October 6, 2011 - Acts 20:22-23
“’And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.’” Acts 20:22-23.
Paul’s journey brings him to a port close to Ephesus, so he summons the elders of the community of believers to come to him. When they arrive, Paul speaks of the commitment of his ministry among them. He encourages them to stay true to the message of Jesus even through tough times. Paul shifts his message to the future of his ministry, indicating that he is going to Jerusalem. Yet he doesn’t know much else. He only knows what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart along the way to Jerusalem. Paul knows that he is going to face even rougher times than he experienced before in Ephesus, yet he is compelled to go.
I would like to think that if God required me to go through hard times or go to prison for His sake that I would stay fully true to Him, glorifying Him in all things. In a sense, I am going through some rough times with the chronic condition manifesting in my foot. It is my desire and my hope that I continue to glorify God through all of the pain. This is a prison of sorts in that I am locked up within this pain. Yet, I have never felt closer to God, and I am learning so many things that I would not have learned if I wasn’t in this condition. The difference is that I had no indication beforehand that this was going to happen. Paul knew that going to Jerusalem meant “prison and hardships.” And Paul knew that for some reason this was God’s clear direction for him. And God was always with him through all of pain that was to come.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been compelled to go somewhere or do something fully knowing that something negative was going to happen? If so, what was it like, and what was your response? Has God told you to do anything that you thought was not going to end well? If so, how did it turn out?
Prayer: Father, help me to know that You are with me through pain and difficult times. You may not deliver me from experiencing rough times, but please help me to know that Your presence is with me in and through rough times. Amen.
Paul’s journey brings him to a port close to Ephesus, so he summons the elders of the community of believers to come to him. When they arrive, Paul speaks of the commitment of his ministry among them. He encourages them to stay true to the message of Jesus even through tough times. Paul shifts his message to the future of his ministry, indicating that he is going to Jerusalem. Yet he doesn’t know much else. He only knows what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to his heart along the way to Jerusalem. Paul knows that he is going to face even rougher times than he experienced before in Ephesus, yet he is compelled to go.
I would like to think that if God required me to go through hard times or go to prison for His sake that I would stay fully true to Him, glorifying Him in all things. In a sense, I am going through some rough times with the chronic condition manifesting in my foot. It is my desire and my hope that I continue to glorify God through all of the pain. This is a prison of sorts in that I am locked up within this pain. Yet, I have never felt closer to God, and I am learning so many things that I would not have learned if I wasn’t in this condition. The difference is that I had no indication beforehand that this was going to happen. Paul knew that going to Jerusalem meant “prison and hardships.” And Paul knew that for some reason this was God’s clear direction for him. And God was always with him through all of pain that was to come.
Questions to consider: Have you ever been compelled to go somewhere or do something fully knowing that something negative was going to happen? If so, what was it like, and what was your response? Has God told you to do anything that you thought was not going to end well? If so, how did it turn out?
Prayer: Father, help me to know that You are with me through pain and difficult times. You may not deliver me from experiencing rough times, but please help me to know that Your presence is with me in and through rough times. Amen.
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