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. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
--Parallel verses:
I Peter 4:1, 7-10
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
When giving the last words to someone you will not see again this side of heaven, how would you encourage them?
I have seen a few approaches to this … good ones and poor ones. The poor approach is to leave those around you with little hope for a purpose in life that matters. Many people get to the end of life, and after searching for all this world has to offer, they find they have not left much of lasting significance that they have invested in. This is sad.
Others, however, keep a mindset of a servant of God. They view life as a temporary visiting stop in the journey to our eternal home in heaven with Jesus. They follow him, dedicate their life’s effort to him, and seek to serve him. And this is reflected in their parting words. Paul was such a person.
Here he encourages the Ephesian leaders to SURGE in following God, like Benjamin Martin did in the movie The Patriot, when he waved the American flag to stop the retreat.
The Ephesian church would experience much persecution and hardship inside and outside the church. So Paul gives these instructions:
1) Keep watch over yourselves
2) Be shepherds and overseers of the church entrusted to you.
3) Be on your guard, ready to defend the church against those who attack it (many times these attacks come through dissection and heresy).
4) Keep your eternal home and rewards in mind as you serve the Lord — this is your hope.
These are great principles for us to follow as we are in the early stages of church persecution in the United States.
Peter, in the cross reference, adds that we need to have our right mindset (a Holy Spirit-transformed mind) on. He called this a sober mind. He says to love deeply and to serve well!
Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)
So, will I take the challenge today, in the middle of whatever current or future hardships I face? Will I surge with Jesus, as Paul called the Ephesians to do?
Lord, my heart is willing, but my flesh is weak. Teach me to be strong in you and in your mighty power! May I lay down my worries and concerns to you each day, set my mind on you and your power and strength, and surge in spiritual victory, though the times are challenging!
His mercies are new every morning.
As I bless the Lord, my soul is over flowing as I commit my Spirit to one into agreement with God and experience the fullness of His Joy!