Acts 20:18-20 (NLT)
When they arrived he
declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until
now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the
trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from
telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.
Paul speaking to church leaders who knew him well draws attention to his
own example, and specifically to his humility and tears. Can we honestly do the
same? Can we say to those we want to encourage in the faith, look at my example
(as I follow Jesus), look at my humility and my tears. Paul suffered
persecution and opposition and probably felt very weak and battered at times but
he endured. Not only did he persevere but he encouraged, rebuked and did
anything else he could think of to help the believers grow. No doubt Paul shed
tears for a number of reasons, he did feel at times personally crushed, but he
was also very concerned for those he ministered to. He was sorrowful when
believers fell into sin. Do we care that much? Do we have the depth of
relationship that Paul clearly had with a large number of believers?
Lord help me not to be
superficial in my relationships but to seek deep and meaningful fellowship so
that I may do everything I can to help others grow. Amen
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