During my senior year of high school, each student was given a writing assignment: what is the good life? It was a tradition at my school for each graduating senior to reflect on what they believed made a good life, almost like a farewell address to this chapter of their life. Then, we had to stand before a faculty board and support our thesis. We were being held accountable for the ideals of the good life we believed in.
I centered my thesis around Acts 20:24 where Paul writes, “My purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Everything else that made up the good life, like finding the right vocation, establishing healthy friendships, creating a Christ-centered family, and maintaining a walk with Jesus were all motivated by finishing the course Jesus gave me. My good life was to be a testament to the grace of God.
Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesians reminds me of his own personal paper on what he believed was the good life. Before he leaves the Ephesians, he reminds them of all he has done on behalf of Jesus. He has taught the hope of Jesus fearlessly, and has held the church accountable to the truth of Jesus’s word. He encourages them to continue to build a life around the same biblical values that he demonstrated for them—never shrinking back from living a bold life for Jesus.
Looking back, I see why our teachers asked us to write the paper. It wasn’t so that we could walk into the adult world with a perfect path towards our own version of the good life. It was to give us an opportunity to decide for ourselves what truths we would stand by when things got hard, and our morals were tested.
In the same way, Paul knew when he left the Ephesian church, “savage wolves” would hide amongst them and try to twist God’s truth (Acts 20:29). It was necessary for them to be alert, remembering Paul’s example so that they would not turn away from everything he had taught them about Jesus.
If you were to give your final address, what would you point to in your life that demonstrated what was most valuable to you? Would it sound a lot like Paul’s address—a life dedicated to the message of Jesus? My prayer for us is this: “As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). If you build a legacy for Jesus, I have no doubt your life will be a “good” one.
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25 thoughts on "Paul’s Farewell Address to the Ephesians"
Friends, I ask for prayer this morning for my friend Erica. She goes to court this morning at 9am (EST) She feels so alone and scared. I ask that we come along side her in prayer that God will uphold her and she will feel His love. Thank you
As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27) Gosh lately o don’t feel very worthy. I have become self absorbed with conflict and fighting the battle that I have not lived well. God forgive me.
I loved Bailey’s final sentence: “If you build your life for Jesus, I have no doubt it will be a good one.” We’ve just been talking with kids’ church about what we pray for. How if we pray for our will to be done and I guess what we think of as the good life God might not answer “yes” but if we pray for God’s will to be done and his good life the answer will always be “yes”.
KATHY – thank you for sharing the quote yesterday, a wonderful reminder to live what we believe and let God’s love shine through … The unbeliever’s are watching us to see what being a Christian looks like.
RUTH LONG – praying for you! So worthy of love and lovable. Lord we pray that Ruth will feel your love today and that her mind would be filled with Your words of Truth.
TAYLOR – praying for wisdom on your relationship decisions.
MARTHA HIX – continuing to pray ❤️
praying for other needs as I go through the requests, and requesting prayers for my family members who are caregivers for a relative under hospice care and for the person receiving the care. A lot of hatred and anger being directed toward the caregivers – praying for God’s love to shine through and reach this person during the time they have left.
Amen
Thinking about my life as a testimony of gods Grace I thought of the verse in Micah to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your god. That means that justice, love and mercy are to be at the centre of all that I do. I am in a stage where I’m considering jobs and Paul’s statement that he had not covered anyone’s silver and gold but rather showed the hard work of helping the weak challenges me to check my motivations, not of money but of helping and of manifesting the glory of God. To proclaim the will of God in my life I must spend much time with the Lord because out of that, the overflow of the spirit flows into the rest of life and by Gods grace I can proclaim the will of God doing things that in earthly terms would be hard.
While thinking on this text, this old hymn came to mind , which I haven’t sung in years. Obviously old with its “Thy’s” and “Thou’s”, yet its message is still a good one. Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
While thinking on this text, this old hymn came to mind , which I haven’t sung in years. Obviously old with its “Thy’s” and