In today’s reading we see, in v. 7, the first allusion to the church meeting regularly on the  first day of the week, which was probably a Saturday evening - so, if you have ever wondered where that came from, here you go.  Then we see what I think is really a hilarious scene - this young guy, Eutychus, who is probably somewhere between 8 and 14, who is in a packed room with other Christians, leaning into what Paul has to say, after listening to him speak for hours (which wasn’t uncommon at this time - which is shocking, because most Christians I know complain when service goes past an hour!),  is overcome by the heat and the oil from the lamps and actually falls asleep.   The problem is, he is next to a window and falls out the second floor window.  Upon seeing this, Paul goes down and picks him up and revives him.  For whatever reason, this just looks like a scene out of a slapstick comedy movie to me!

Then we see the chapter take a turn - Paul is speaking to this church in Ephesus, and he is awaiting his trip to Jerusalem, and he is imparting 2 thoughts on these people.  First is a plea to cling to God’s word.  He has taught for them, he has fought for them,  and he has worked himself ragged to bring the message of Jesus to this church, and to plant a church that can thrive.  He knows what will happen when he leave this time, which is his last time - he knows that false teachers will rise up, he knows that turmoil will pop up, he knows that there will be a twisting of God’s word and his teaching...he knows all of these things, but he begs them to remember the truth, and to cling to the truth.  He pleads that they will remember.  As I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think about my kids, and their eventual journey out of the house, and out from under my veil of protection.  This has to be a glimpse of what that feels like.  And yet, it is part of the journey.  That has to be what God feels like with us.  He wants to let us get out and spread out wings, and chaos and turmoil are just part of that journey.  I can feel Paul’s emotion here...I can relate to it.

Then he turns to the pending trip to Jerusalem...where he knows what is going to happen; he is going to be imprisoned, or worse, probably killed.  So, he begins begging them in a similar manner to remember the teaching, but instead of just for the sake of the church in Ephesus, he wants them to remember the bigger story; the bigger picture.  He sums up is entire ministry in quoting from Jesus himself, from Matthew 10:8, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Those are profound words coming from a man who is marching right into his own imprisonment...doing so because he knows it is his calling, and because he knows that there are people there that need the message of Jesus.

What a great example for us this morning.  Today, even just for the day, I am reminded and encouraged to look for an opportunity to live out that mantra, to find an opportunity to give of myself in even just a small way.  It is a great way to live life in general, but it is hard to really embody that way of living for most of us if we are being honest.  So, just for the day...I am looking for an opportunity to do my part.