December 2, Acts 20
Who’s been your most influential teacher or mentor? What set them apart from others you have known?
To Christians across the northeastern arc of the Mediterranean, Paul was the leading figure of the movement. Many of them heard the gospel from his own mouth, and others came to Christ in the churches he planted in city after city. Paul’s description of his ministry paints a vivid portrait of an effective spiritual mentor.
Unjust arrest and incarceration, brutal mistreatment, assassination plots and forced departures were common in Paul’s experience. Paul explained how he kept going in his talk with the elders from Ephesus. He said he no longer counted his life precious. He wanted to testify to the gospel of God’s grace wherever God’s Spirit sent him. He cared more about the mission than his personal safety. His example
convicts many of us who qualify our willingness to serve on convenience and comfort! Paul accomplished more for the Lord than any other worker we know, because he lost his sense of self (just as Jesus has told us all to do).
It must have been painful for Paul to describe the Jewish plots against him. Remember, Paul was a devout Jew himself. Decades after his conversion to Christ and hundreds of miles from Jerusalem, he was still marking time by the Jewish calendar. Luke described their departure from Philippi as “after the days of Unleavened Bread.” Paul based his itinerary on getting to Jerusalem by Pentecost. No doubt many of the tears Paul shed as he served were out of love and concern for his fellow Israelites,
who were rejecting their Messiah and the gospel of their salvation.
Paul said the Ephesian elders knew how he had lived among them during the three years he spent there. A spiritual mentor’s example empowers and validates his teaching. A spiritual leader is foolish to think he can separate how he lives from what he says. Paul said he was a servant, working with his hands to provide for himself and others. People who are allergic to work and service are not likely to be strong spiritual leaders. Paul said he shed some tears during his ministry at Ephesus, showing his heart for the work and the souls of the
people he taught. He said he was innocent of their blood because he never held back anything they needed to hear, and declared the whole counsel of God to them. It takes a great leader to say hard things in love that his people need to hear. He committed them into the hands of God and his word, the real source of his power as their mentor. We love our leaders and honor our mentors in the faith. But God’s word is the real force behind the greatest teacher’s words.
Paul’s life is a powerful testimony to the amazing potential of a life surrendered to God’s purpose. That qualifies him to be a mentor throughout the ages for us all.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—December 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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