Wednesday 4 June 2025 - More blessed to give

Wednesday 4 June 2025

Today is Wednesday the 4th of June, in the 7th week of Eastertide.    The Cape Town Camerata sings, Onse Vader, The Lord’s Prayer. Why not take a moment to pray the Lord’s prayer in your native tongue as you enter into this time with God today?     Ons Vader wat woon  In die hemel  Geheilig sy  U naam  Laat U ryk kom  U wil geskied  Soos in die hemel  So ook op die aarde  Gee ons vandag ons dag se brood  En vergewe al ons skulde  Net soos ons vergewe  Dié wat teen ons sondig  Laat kom ons  Nie in die versoeking, maar verlos ons van die bose  Want U is die ryk  En die sterkte  En die Here  Vir ewig en ewig  Amen  Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.    Acts 20:28-38  Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ’  When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.  Paul is here saying a final farewell to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, whom he has summoned overland for that purpose. He tells them to “shepherd the church of God”. What do you think he means? How would this “shepherding” look to you?   Paul says that “some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them”. Have you ever seen an example of this? You might like to speak to God about this situation...  “There was much weeping among them”. As you listen to the passage again, notice the affection within this community of believers...   Acts 20:28-38  Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ’  When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.  Finally, reflecting on these few minutes of turning reflectively to God, can you bring it all together in the form of a prayer in your own words?  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.   As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be  World without end  Amen