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Acts 20:35-36
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
New International Version (NIV)
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There are more than eight beatitudes. We know in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus said in order, “Blessed are the poor, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” The word blessed means, “Oh how happy . . .” My friend and fellow minister Shawn Shannon mentioned these extra beatitudes in our worship planning meeting recently. Some time, when you have time, tracking them down might prove rewarding. It is good to know who will be blessed and how to be blessed.
Paul’s ministry at Ephesus blessed him. After he planted the first church in that great city called the “Lumen Asia” or “Light of Asia", he stayed there three years. There he preached night and day, first in the synagogue and then in a lecture hall. From that ministry, the gospel not only transformed Ephesus (making idolatry unprofitable), but also permeated all of Asia. The idolmakers who went out of business because of the effect of the gospel decided to riot against Paul. With his life still in danger, he met the Ephesian elders and preached to them. He urged them to watch the flock over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers. In this passage and again in 1 Peter 5, we find that the words elder, shepherd or pastor and bishop or overseer are used interchangeably. The elders were the shepherds who oversaw the flock.
Paul ends with the promise of blessing: the weakest sheep need the most help. Giving us a beatitude from Jesus which the gospel writers didn’t mention, Paul says it is more “blessed to give than to receive.” Every pastor who is a pastor indeed knows how true that is. I remember a time in college when my heart had been broken. Then I heard that one of my members, Roy Hudson had a real broken heart which required a valve replacement and by-pass surgery. I drove from Waco to Temple thinking I could pray with him and be of help. Roy and Flourine loved me and blessed me that night. Now nearly forty years later I can’t forget their kindness to me. I thought I was giving but I received so much more from them than I gave.
After Paul preached, he prayed with them. Imagine Paul telling them that he would not see them again in this world, and then kneeling in the sand before he boarded the boat. Many dangers, toils and snares lay ahead of him and his companions. But before he left he had to pray for his sheep. Then he and the others tore themselves away from the people and headed on the journey. They were blessed. This beatitude is still available to all who believe it: “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”
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Pray with me:
Father, we know the blessing of receiving. Would you give us the greater blessing that comes to those who give? We want to belong to a church where people care about each other. Help us, Father, to see the needs and to give of ourselves and our resources to help. Let us work hard for your kingdom manifested in the church because we know that our labor in you is never in vain. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 6:3-4
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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