Slices
Prepare
Pray: ‘Lord, I know sometimes/often you aren’t the most important thing in my life. Please forgive me and fill me with your Spirit. Amen.’
Bible passage
Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders
13 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 Chios. 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. 18 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 and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 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.
22 ‘And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Explore
Did you ever watch City Slickers, a film about some city men who go on vacation out west to learn to be cowboys? The rancher holds up one finger to tell them the secret to life: it’s just one thing.
‘I’m not indispensable; I just want to go on doing what God has called me to – telling everyone I meet about the extravagant grace of God’ (my translation of verse 24). Here is Paul’s one thing. In spite of all the difficulties and pain he’s experienced, in spite of knowing there’s more to come, Paul is determined to follow God’s calling on his life and carry on spreading the good news. The power of the Holy Spirit is still filling him as Ananias had said it would (Acts 9:17).
What’s your ‘one thing’? Money or job; family or friends; possessions or desires? Or something else entirely? If you’re absolutely honest, what matters most? What fills your time, your attention, your mind? And how important are you – does your life matter to you?
Respond
Allow the Spirit to show you what’s most important to you, being open and honest with yourself. Are confession and repentance needed? A refilling with the Holy Spirit? A rededication to the things of the Lord? A finding of your true one thing?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ecclesiastes 12; 1 Timothy 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks to God for the Revealing Jesus mission framework and our Mission Enablers who are already doing such a great job of supporting and equipping churches of all shapes and sizes to connect with young people and Reveal Jesus to them. (This weeks prayers are related this this article in Connecting You.)
