July 21st - Acts 20:18–20

“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.” My son works for a well-known food retailer. When he leaves for work, I wish him well and he always responds in exactly the same way: “I’ll do my best, Dad.” And I know that he will. That’s exactly what we are reading in this passage today. We are meeting Paul as he addressed the leaders of the church in Ephesus and he wanted them to know that he did his best. He didn’t hold anything back. He suffered with them and told them everything they needed to know, even if they weren’t keen to hear it. He had done his best. Paul had spent three years with the church in Ephesus, which was a very long ministry for him. On this particular occasion, he was eager to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. So he decided not to make the journey to Ephesus, but invited their leaders to make the 30-mile journey to the coast to meet him at Miletus (v17). His speech to them is deeply moving and reveals his deep love for them and his passionate desire that they should be strong in the face of whatever opposition they might encounter. Paul was sure that this was the last time that he would meet with them, and he was right about that, although he had no idea why that was going to be the case. The fact was, when he got to Jerusalem he was going to be arrested and be sent, finally, to Rome to face trial. Paul wasn’t perfect and neither are we. We all fail. But God looks to us, frail as we are, to do our best and, amazingly, he will take that and use it to his glory. Question Are you committed to doing your best for God today? Prayer Lord God, I know that I often fail you. Thank you that you are willing to take and use what I give to you today. Amen