Footsteps #119

At the end of his stay in Ephesus Acts.19:23-41 records the clash of religions. Demetrius, a silversmith, acknowledged that the whole province had been evangelized. Demetrius’s real motivation was clearly financial, but he was able to turn it into a religious matter because the temple of Artemis (or Diana), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located in Ephesus. Notice how Demetrius in v27 uses religious ‘piety’ in his attempt to keep the money flowing in. Unfortunately, modern Christianity has also been plagued with the problem of using piety to keep the money flowing. 

At some time towards the end of his approximately 3 years in Ephesus, Paul received disturbing news from Corinth. It was while in Ephesus that he wrote the 3 letters to the Corinthians –  2 have been retained in our NT. We will now spend some time in contemplation of what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. 

I can’t help but think of the deep sorrow he must have felt for the church he had planted when this news arrived. There must have been many a sleepless night in prayer and earnest thought as he learned of the methods employed to counteract his work. Paul wrote as their condition demanded, giving reproof, counsel, admonition, and encouragement.  Occasionally he gives glimpses of his labours and sufferings in the cause of Christ. Lashings and imprisonments, cold and hunger and thirst, perils by land and sea, in the city and in the wilderness, from his own countrymen, from gentiles and false disciples – all this he endured for the sake of the Gospel. He was defamed, reviled, perplexed, persecuted, troubled on every side, in jeopardy constantly and ready to be delivered to death for Jesus’ sake (2Cor.4:4-10, 2Cor.4:11, 1Cor.15:30). 

Amidst the constant storm of opposition, the clamour of enemies, and the desertion of friends, the intrepid apostle must have grown weary at times. But always he pressed on to spread the knowledge of the Crucified One. He was but walking in the blood-stained footsteps of Jesus. He sought no discharge from the warfare till he could lay off his armour at the feet of his Redeemer.