Psalms 20-22, Acts 21:1-17 • Key Verse: Acts 21:1
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out,” our pastor would say as the communion service
concluded. And then we would sing the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Nothing more clearly
communicates our oneness in Christ as the Lords Supper. Sadly, though, the family of God at times
appears dysfunctional, even splintered.
The closeness Paul had with the church at Ephesus was indicated by the tears, hugs, kisses and
grief evident as they accompanied him to the ship (Acts 20:37-38). Emotions ran high. The
opening verse of the next chapter paints a powerful word picture: “After we had tom ourselves
away from them . . . .”
Torn. Like two things glued together and then ripped apart. The separation is difficult, and the
tearing is not clean as bits of pieces, held fast by the glue, are ripped and remain attached. Paul’s
break from the Ephesians was not a clean one. Their hearts were so attached to one another that
saying good-bye was extremely painful.
It can be painful just to read about it. It’s painful as we think of the agony the church felt
knowing, they would never see Paul again. It’s also painful if it reminds us of the final
farewells we’ve had to make.
And then there is a third kind of pain—the pain of never expecting an emotional farewell
because our relationships with others are already fractured.
Are you experiencing close fellowship, or are your relationships broken? Jesus wants oneness in
His Body, the Church. Are you a promoter or destroyer?
Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in