planning for the future

Good morning friends,
Today Paul finishes his visit with the Ephesian elders reminding them again of his example and warning them that their community will face trials as well as he will. He warns them especially of false teachers, disciples who don’t hold the truth. We don’t know if he had some particular teaching in mind or if he is speaking in general, but the warning is clear. The love and fellowship Paul and these leaders have for each other is touching. They have worked hard together to spread God’s word, so naturally they are sorry to imagine that they might not see each other again. Blessed be the ties that bind.

In our second reading we see the crowd of faithful Christians in front of God’s throne. We’re told that they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We’re also told that they have come out of the great ordeal. That seems to suggest they have been delivered from persecution. I suspect they left that persecution by going through it, witnessing to their faith even to death. Now they are sheltered by God’s throne where no more evil can harm them. Truly in life and in death we belong to God; no matter what comes in the end we are safe in him.

God bless,
Sam

Acts 20:29-38
29I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.

32And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.

*Sunday

Revelation 7:9-17
9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."