Now from Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And … he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord … testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit … I know that none of you … will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
(Acts 20:17, 18b-19a, 21-22a, 25-32 ESV)
Paul is saying goodbye to people he loves dearly, knowing he will never see them again. He’s expecting to face prison and death for Jesus’ sake. What can he say to these people he loves to prepare them to grow in Christ on their own, without his help?
One thing above all—he wants them to teach the Good News of Jesus, without leaving anything out or distorting it in any way. He wants the people of Ephesus to hear that God came into this world to rescue them from the power of evil, to forgive their sin, and make them children of God—and how? By laying His own life down on the cross, and by rising from the dead three days later. Paul wants them to know that Jesus is their only Savior, the One who will forgive, cleanse, and raise from the dead everyone who trusts in Him.
That’s why Paul worries so much about the way the leaders live. It’s a terrible thing when a pastor or elder does something that causes a person to turn away from the Gospel of Jesus. Coveting, laziness, false teaching—Paul wants to see none of these in the church, because they are deadly.
And what about us? We too need to keep our eyes on Jesus, loving and trusting in Him above all. God has given us the great honor of setting an example for those around us—not through our own power, but with Jesus living through us. He can keep us and our brothers and sisters safe in His hands until the day He returns.
WE PRAY: Lord, watch over me, both what I believe and how I love, so that those around me will come to trust in You forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on May 6, 2025
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. Are you a leader or a follower? Why do you think so?
2. When have the words or actions of another Christian affected your own faith? Was it for good or bad?
3. When have your own words or actions affected someone else?