Read Acts 20
God does things in his seasons. There were 3 times a year that all Jewish men were to come to Jerusalem to worship God: the feast of Passover, the feast of Pentecost, and the feast of Tabernacles. Paul came back for Passover and left for Greece during the days of Unleavened Bread. Passover, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits all happen in the same season. He preaches in the towns of Greece during Unleavened Bread. Unleavened Bread is symbolic of cleansing our bodies of sin. I'm certain that that was the topic of many of Paul's sermons during this time. Jesus fulfilled this feast when he died a sinless lamb - the bread of life. Next comes First fruits which is when the people bring the first fruits of their crops to the Lord. Jesus fulfilled this feast when he raised from the grave and became the first fruit to be presented to God. He brought many with him. So I find it interesting that during this time the man falls from the 3rd story and dies only to be brought back to life when Paul embraces him and speaks life into him. This was the "first fruit" of Paul: the first to rise from death.
Paul continues to travel and encourage the churches. He is trying to visit them all before Pentecost, the next feast that requires him to be in Jerusalem. This next feast was fulfilled when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. It represents the birth of the Church. No wonder Paul preaches to them about feeding the church. He warns them of the enemy who hates the Church and what he will try to do to destroy it. He is saying his good-bye to them because he knows his time with them is over. It is like Jesus's prayer in John 17. He commends them to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to buld them up and give them an inheritance among all which are sanctified. The last thing he tells them is to remember the words of Jesus when he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Lord, may we not love our life but pour it out as an offering to you.
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