October 10
Bible Reading: Acts 20:17-38
Acts 20:28, “To care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
You don’t need me to tell you that we live in perilous times. Around the globe, wars are either ongoing or on the horizon—Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East, China and Taiwan. Our own country is hopelessly divided and plagued by corruption. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen more uncertainty regarding our nation’s future. While church attendance is at an all-time low, crime and despair are on the opposite trajectory. Yet, as the ship of humanity sails toward its God-appointed destiny, it’s essential to remind ourselves that God is in control. Despite the ugliness that permeates the world, there is one entity, the church of God, that remains forever beautiful, constituting “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).
Paul deemed the church beautiful and exhorted the elders of Ephesus to care for it, maintaining that same perspective. He had sacrificed and endured through unimaginable challenges because of his great love for the church. We esteem something’s value according to the price paid for it; the price paid for the church was the lifeblood of Jesus. Even as you’ve been redeemed, “not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19). The church is God’s work of art, His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), and He is even now preparing it for the day when He will “present the church to himself in splendor” (Ephesians 5:27). Paul’s exhortation to those elders was to care for the church as shepherds, but we all likewise have a role to fulfill in maintaining fellowship, exercising our gifts, and doing our part in the building up of the body. Regardless of what you hear on the news, nothing is more important or of more lasting value than that!
There is a famous story of the days when Sir Christopher Wren was building St. Paul’s Cathedral. On one occasion, he was on a tour of the work in progress. He came upon a man at work and asked him: “What are you doing?” The man said: “I am cutting this stone to a certain size and shape.” He came to a second man and asked him what he was doing. The man said: “I am earning so much money at my work.” He came to a third man and asked him what he was doing. The man paused for a moment, straightened himself and answered: “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build St. Paul’s Cathedral.” All three were working on the same project, but only the third man grasped the glory of what he was privileged to be a part of. We’ve all been gifted to serve in the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11). It is possible to lose focus and forget that as members of the body of Christ, we are incredibly privileged to be a part of the greatest work of all! Are you serving with passion or going through the motions?
We esteem the value of a thing according to the price paid for it. That Jesus shed His blood to obtain the church means that it is of infinite value, and therefore deserving of our undying devotion!
GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God.
He whose Word cannot be broken
formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
See, the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,
never fails from age to age.
‘Round each habitation hov’ring,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a cov’ring,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from their banner
light by night and shade by day,
safe they feed upon the manna
which He gives them on their way.
Savior, since of Zion’s city
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasures,
all his boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasures
none but Zion’s children know.
LookingtoJesus 