"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."
Today's quote relates Paul's sorrowful goodbyes to the disciples of Christ in Greece and Asia. He warned them of the coming threats to the Church when he very accurately predicted that there would be those who would come in from the non-believers as well as those who would rise up from their own ranks trying to destroy the Church with watered down, false, and distorted doctrines.
Paul's warnings were accurate on every point. Even as he was giving those farewells, the seed of corruption was being planted by Roman pagans and Jews whose perverted and selfish heresy would eventually combine to become known as, what is today, the Roman Catholic Church and it's many kindred denominations. (Ironically, this includes many of today's "Protestant" denominations.)
It is very important to note that in closing his remarks, Paul said, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
So very sadly, there are many today who project that Christians are a self centered, non-inclusive, greedy and controlling group. A group who isolates itself and the doctrine of Jesus Christ to massive, ornate, air conditioned buildings where they sit on padded pews and wait for the lost to come to them. That false Christianity projects an image of smugness, an image of a people who grant unto themselves a false and un-scriptural authority over "sinners".
Instead of carrying the blessed doctrine of Jesus Christ with them wherever they go, the very doctrine that encourages love and compassion, they condemn the places where the lost souls can be found and restrict the teaching of that gospel to designated comfortable places where those lost souls are forced to grovel to them to find the message of freedom from sin and eternal salvation.
The picture of modern "Christianity" I've just painted is a sad one but very real one.
It is far past time that every true Christian learns the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, the amazing grace of God through Jesus Christ crucified, and takes up his/her cross and begins to preach and teach that doctrine to every soul who will stand and listen, attending ALWAYS to the needs of those less fortunate that we.
The very core of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to love God with all you have, and do, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.~
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