Twisted words and commendations
This must have been a special time that Paul had spent with these folk at Miletus, and the elders from Ephesus. His departure is significant enough for a specially prepared address. He has loved them and served God with tears and trials. Always sticking to the declaration of the truth, repentance, and the glory of Christ Jesus in his grace to us.
He knows what will come after, and wants them to be prepared for trials such as he has seen, and wrote to Philippians about (1:29). He uses words like "admonish" and "testify" and "declaring the whole counsel of God". Paul has taken his responsibility so seriously and so resolutely, filled with the passion of the Holy Spirit.
Some departures are a relief, because we're glad to see the back of someone. Some departures are a bitter sweet sorrow for we love those who are leaving, but expect there to be joy in their journey. Other departures are resolutely hard because the destination and journey will be a difficult and painful one, like sending sons to war. Or like Paul's departure, the precious bond is weighed down with heaviness knowing what will happen in Jerusalem.
What about me then? As people come and go and as I come and go, what will the departure be like? Is it my responsibility to bear the ambassadorship of Christ with honour. What about the trials? What about the destiny? When the people of God send loved ones to serve Christ in other dangerous places, will we kneel, weep and pray with and for them? What are our commitments to the bond of fellowship in Christ? What will we be commended for? And in what power will we do anything worthy of this kind of commendation? I must pray for the Holy Spirit to fuel my guts, my courage, my willingness to be spent. Most of us would not be poured out for anything except our own entertainment or comfort or image.
Are we sold out together for Jesus, regardless of the road some of us have to take?
The twisted words will distort the future, they will come from among you. Wolves drawing away people to be devoured. This is why he says to pay careful attention, why he says that he worked for 3 years admonishing with tears, why he declares the whole counsel of God to them. The danger to the flock is very real. The Wolves will come. The warnings about the world, the flesh and the devil, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are all things that the wolves would have you follow after to dilute your commitment to Christ.
Without this vigilance for yourself and the flock, you will not be able to identify these wiles. So whether it's the state interfering in the life of the church, or the culture, or the media, or false teaching or divisive people or any number of things, without maturity and discernment these wolves will start tearing apart the body.
Paul seeks of himself and of the rest of the body of Christ a sold out obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ where each individual holds their own life of no account. May I grow in this conviction and you also.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
-- The Apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi
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