Admit it—it’s hard to say goodbye.  It’s hard to leave people who love you and the work God has called you to be and do in a certain place for a period of time.  But it is harder still not to obey God who wants us to be all He created us to be and do for His glory.  We understand more clearly in these moments of Spirit-led change of direction when God says, “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
    your burnt offerings and sacrifices
    or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
    and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

To stay where we know people who appreciate our sacrifices of service to them is enticing—and comfortable.  To stay in a place where we learned what to do and when to do it with people we love dearly and would continue to sacrifice our lives in service to them seems best.  When God calls us to another place, it’s daunting without knowing what lies ahead, but we must obey.  To say goodbye, fully trusting God for the outcomes, in obedience to His leading, is greater than staying.  To please God greatly—is our highest praise to Him! 

But it’s hard to say goodbye….

Acts 20, The Message

On to Jerusalem

^17-21 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. When they arrived, he said, “You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. I didn’t skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus.

^22-24 “But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

^25-27 “And so this is good-bye. You’re not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God’s inaugurated kingdom. I’ve done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God’s will for you.

²⁸ “Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.

^29-31 “I know that as soon as I’m gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.

³² “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

^33-35 “I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”

^36-38 Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. They knew they would never see him again—he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

As we read, we hear the committed heart and God-given wisdom of Paul as he says his goodbyes to those he loves and serves:

• Paul loves the people with whom he worked alongside. 
• Paul did ministry with people not to people. 
• Paul did whatever it took to preach Jesus as Messiah, our Savior and Lord.
• Paul “went the streets” to preach as well in the meeting places where scriptures were read and discussed. 
• He went to homes to encourage people in their faith and trust in the Master, Jesus.
• Paul told the story of Jesus and related the teachings of Jesus so we would know how to live our lives. 

Even though at first read, one might say that Paul was boastful to tell all he had done along with telling of the suffering he endured, but when you read between the lines—it’s all about Jesus who Paul has totally given his life to serve.  Paul will write letters back to the churches with great encouragement with assurance that following Jesus with all that is in them is worth it all;

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NIV

“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3

All Paul’s letters to the churches of only boasting of Christ who lives in us. Remember these words were written while sitting in jail for preaching Jesus!  For Paul–It’s all about Jesus!

Are we all about Jesus?  Pause to pray and reflect.  Who we are reflects what we do every day.  Paul’s advice to those who believe Jesus and want to be like Him is this:

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

Lord,

Thank you for the way you transform our lives when we give ourselves to you. Thank you for saving us then teaching us how to follow you.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit inspired words to guide us into all truth—You!

In Jesus Name, Amen