The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 3, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 3, 2022
October 3,2022 (Bishop Crowther's Day)
TOPIC: FAITH OF OUR FATHERS: LIVING STILL
TEXT: Acts 20:28-38
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, October 3, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Today's passage is the continuation of Paul's admonition to the Ephesians elders. Paul, in his exhortations to the elders in the Church, opened their eyes to the spiritual alertness to what would befall the Church after his departure. To mention but few are: (i) The elders should thoroughly Swatch over their members against savage wolves, even among the so-balled preachers of the Gospel, who have the intention of snatching away their members to establish their own churches (w. 28-30). (ii) The elders should learn contentment in ministry so that they would not over-burden the church with their needs (vs. 31-34). (iii) They should also support the weak and the less-privileged in the Church through alms-giving (v.35)l After Paul's exhortations, he prayed with them as they all burst into tears while accompanying him to the ship (vv. 36-38).
Today, we commemorate the good works of the first African Bishop in Nigeria, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther (Apostle Paul; of his time). He was once a slave and later became a rugged preacher! of the gospel at home and abroad. His contributions to the Gospel of! Christ cannot be underrated till date. He translated the Holy Bible and Hymns to some of Nigerian languages. What a living faith! Christians and Church fathers are enjoined to emulate the admonition of Paul to the Ephesian elders. By so doing, we are setting aglow the faith of our fathers.
Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to keep the faith which our Church heroes taught us and follow in their footstep, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.