Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul told the elders in Ephesus, “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”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you” where we read:
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock.
The verse begins, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, ...” Luke began with the words, “For I know this” which means “because, since, on account of and consequently I, Paul, understand, perceive and have knowledge of the following”, “that after my departing” or “that post the time when Paul leaves and goes forth from the elders in the church in Ephesus” “shall grievous wolves” which means “will burdensome, severe, stern, violent, cruel and unsparing rapacious and destructive men” “enter in among you” or “make entrance, arise and come in with you, elders of the church in Ephesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “elders in the church in Ephesus” that he knew after he left them “destructive and rapacious” men would enter in the church and do the following.
The verse continues, “... not sparing the flock. ” Luke added the words, “not sparing” which means “in no way abstaining, treating leniently or forbearing” “the flock” or “the group of Christ's disciples who were presided over by the elders”. Luke shared how “Paul” said the “grievous wolves” or “destructive men” would not be “lenient” toward “Christ's disciples” who were in the church in “Ephesus”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Paul” was greatly concerned for the “elders” and “believers in Jesus” who were part of the church in “Ephesus”. God used “Paul” to reach the Ephesians with His “good news of salvation” through believing and trusting in His Son Jesus, and “Paul” cared for and taught the believers there about the Kingdom of God. God loves people everywhere, and His desire is to save them from the penalty for their sins which is death, and anyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life in Heaven. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus and beware of “grievous wolves” who will not “spare” them.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things”, 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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