That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7 KJV
Acts 20:33-35 ~ I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 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. KJV
If any Christian wanted to pattern their life after anyone, other than the LORD Jesus Christ, Paul might be that man. Through His life, many missionaries, including Tom and I, have surrendered our whole lives to serve the Lord on the mission field. Our hearts were called to reach our own people of America. Many others have gone overseas, to countries who have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. They are repeating Paul's ministry in the 20th century! His life after his life-changing event on the Damascus Road would never be the same. From a life of sin and death, he became known as one of the greatest Preachers of Jesus Christ the world has ever known. God wanted him, the lowest of lowest sinners, a murderer, torturer, and evil filled man destined for hell. Only God knows, and He has forgotten, the absolute truth of all of Paul's sins. Thank you, Lord, for burying our sins beneath the deepest sea! Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
As Christians, that moment we met Jesus and surrendered our lives to Him, was our life-changing moment. Our sins were gone, never to be seen by God again. I thank God every day for giving us the greatest gift this world will ever know. Jesus, came to die, and while He did live here on earth, He taught us how to live for God. I didn't realize this, but after studying this chapter, I found out that the words of Jesus here, are NOT recorded in the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. This is the only place it is recorded, and Paul is telling the folks, "What Jesus Said!" What a blessing!
So let me tell you a little about where Paul is in his journey to tell everyone about a Saviour. He is in Ephesus, and had been there upwards to three years, and he is getting ready to move on and as he addresses the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, he gives a wonderful legacy of Christ. In verse 31 of this same chapter, Paul reminds them that his message preached ". . .night and day with tears." was done as a labor of love for Jesus, the Ephesians and to see many come to a believing relationship with Jesus. Paul gave his whole self, not so much his substance, for he had none. He was completely dependent on the Ephesians to provide his very necessities and those men that were with him, and they did.
He reminded them that he was not there for their money, he asked for none, he only wanted to preach the Gospel. He was getting ready to move on in his journey now, and the church was overwhelming sad at his departure. They loved Paul, he had preached truth, and many had been saved. In his weakness they cared for him, and he wanted them to carry on this desire to minister to the weak and needy. What a blessed reminder that Jesus gave as He journeyed to the cross. Always thinking of others and encouraging us to give to the weak, poor, and needy. Give what? Give of ourselves, our substance, materially, spiritually, financially. How can we do less when He gave His ALL!
Lord, help us to be the ultimate givers, giving from the heart and hope that others might see Jesus in us. And please help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You, giving YOU all of our best with an open loving heart for the ministry and people. Amen.
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