The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul told the elders in Ephesus, “I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “take heed therefore unto yourselves … to feed the church of God” where we read:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
The verse begins, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, ...” Luke began with the words, “take heed therefore unto yourselves” which means “give attention and devote thought then, wherefore, consequently and on this account toward your own selves, elders in the church in Ephesus”, “and to all the flock” or “and toward each, every, the whole and everyone of the sheep or group of Christ's disciples and bodies of Christians”, “over the which the Holy Ghost” which means “with which the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “has made you overseers” or “has placed, put, set and established you, elders in the church of Ephesus, as ones in charge, superintendents and elders”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “elders” of the church to pay particular attention to themselves and the church members over which God's “Spirit” had put them in charge.
The verse goes on to say, “... to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.” Luke continued with the words, “to feed” which means “to tend, keep, nourish and supply the requisites for the soul's need” “the church of God” or “the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “which he has purchased” which means “that he, Jesus Christ, has reserved, preserved and acquired” “with his own blood” or “by the means of his, Jesus Christ's, own personal bloodshed”. Luke shared how “Paul” instructed the “elders” in the church in Ephesus to care for and instruct the other believers who were in the church for whom Jesus “bought” by the shedding of his blood.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” was concerned for the continued growth of the “Christians” in “Ephesus”. Jesus not only died on the cross and shed his “blood” for the believers in “Ephesus”, but he also died for the entire world. Everyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Afterward they are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (See 2 Peter 3:18), and those who are “overseers” to them are to “feed, tend to and nourish” them with God's word. Let all who read these words carefully examine the words of “Paul” and seek to learn of God and be used by Him as an “overseer” or one of the “flock” of Jesus to whom they oversee.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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