God's Plan For Us

From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes.

I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.

“But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.” (Acts 20:17-27)

In previous blogs I have noted the way John referred to “the Jews” in very negative ways.  In this reading Luke (author Acts) does the same by having Paul say: “I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews.”  Luke attributed to Paul: “I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.”  The Jews were being faulted for not believing Jesus was their Messiah.

What is God’s plan for us?  Luke, speaking as Paul, felt there was a plan he would never stop proclaiming despite the obstacle he would continue to face such as imprisonment and hardships.  His life was of secondary importance to Paul, according to Luke.  Here’s where Paul’s many letters are more instructive rather than one speaking as Paul, such as Luke. 

Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33) 

Everything for the glory of God, and avoid giving offense to anyone.  Sounds like a plan.

Deacon David Pierce