September 9th - Acts 20:36-38

Acts 20:36-38 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. There was clearly a very strong bond between Paul and the Ephesian elders, and this moment of parting was painful. Paul had an absolute conviction in the wonderful future that God had for him. He often spoke with great confidence about the afterlife. Even so, this moment of departure was sad, and the tears flowed. We shouldn’t be afraid of our emotions. At the funeral of a Christian, we always have much to celebrate. Our life is secure in God’s hands for time and eternity. Nevertheless, there is real sadness when a Christian dies, and it is important for us to be open about that. Death cannot separate us from the love of God, but it does separate us from one another for a while. These verses are important for me because they reveal the depth of love that these Christians had for one another. During my years of ministry, I have moved on to a new sphere on a number of occasions. I have always found those moments incredibly painful and never without many tears. In every situation, precious relationships have grown up and deep roots have developed. The pain of moving on has been real, but I don’t regret it because it has revealed the love that I’ve shared with others, and for that I will always be grateful. Question How do you cope with moving on? Prayer Loving God, thank you that You are with me all the time amid all the changes and challenges of life. Amen