Joyful Work

Acts 20:13-17 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
 
PAUL’S life and ministry is about to change. After a few days of ministering in some towns close to each other, Paul arranged to meet with the elders from Ephesus at Miletus, a port city connected to Ephesus.
   Paul is saying goodbye to these men he had discipled. He surely had developed strong personal relationships with them. Paul’s departing words is in three parts: his past three years’ ministry in Ephesus, the current circumstances and the Ephesian elders’ future responsibilities. He speaks first of his past:
 
Acts 20:18-21 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
 
Is Paul’s goodbye pridefully about himself? Seven times Paul said, “I”.
   We can answer that by turning to Paul’s teaching about pride in Galatians 6:4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else. The Greek meaning of pride in this context is exultation, joy.
   Paul did not speak, “I” to exalt himself, but he taught and reminded his Ehesian friends of his own response to the Lord’s service. He was joyful, thankful he had been faithful in God’s work.
   Everything about his ministry was focused on exalting Jesus, not himself. The key to exalting Jesus is great humility with tears. Be grateful, faithful and humble to serve with compassion as Jesus has served us. Paul has withstood very severe testing. He has still been firm to preach anything that would be helpful to you, both Jews and Greeks the way of salvation. Paul had no pride in himself as a man, only an exultation of his faithfulness to serve Jesus and to his church. The Lord wants to know the joy of faithful service to him and to his church.