36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all
of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they
embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved
them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then
they accompanied him to the ship.
These elders and the church are heart-broken now having
heard from the father of their church that they will never see him again. Paul was such a force of God walking so
diligently and purposefully in the Spirit that it would be very difficult to
realize he would not return. Often the
knowledge that he might return keeps a group together and faithful, but
learning that he wouldn’t return means other leaders have to take over. Who could replace Paul? This would be a difficult transition time for
the church and it seems that Paul knew it.
Paul’s farewell speech is a beautiful message and it is
obvious that he deeply cared for the Ephesian church. Paul is incredibly sincere and I imagine
somewhat heart-broken himself at having to tell them he was leaving and
wouldn’t return. You don’t just live and
work alongside people for three years in the intimate settings of Christian
ministry without being strongly connected with them.
This current time in church history is significant. Many churches today are experiencing the
foundational members of the church dying.
The hand-off to the next generation isn’t happening very smoothly as had
happened between the previous generation hand-off. What these elders hold most dear and value
greatly, mostly traditional by description, aren’t held in high regard by the
new generation. Like the Ephesian church
which would hope to cling to all they had been taught by Paul, I hope the new
generation will hold onto the steadfast faiths of the previous generation
regardless of the style of worship.
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