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"Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."
(Acts 28:31)
In this week's devotions, we are looking at the important topic of leadership. There are literally thousands of books and articles that address this grand topic. Men like John Maxwell, Peter Drucker, Jim Collins, and a host of others have instructed and helped so many leaders. There are also many women today who are great leaders from whom I have learned much, like Christine Caine and Lysa TerKeurst. The Bible has much to say about leadership as well. In fact, one of the best books ever written about leadership is the Book of Nehemiah. What an incredible leader he was!
We have been examining the Apostle Paul's message he shared with the Ephesian pastors around AD 57. He did not hold back or water down his message. He had this last opportunity to speak to them, and he used his time wisely and spoke truth in love. He was most concerned for how they would lead the church of God.
In Acts 20:31, Paul continues his instruction to these Ephesian pastors. He reflects on what he has already said by using the word "therefore." These men of God were to watch, be on the alert. To preserve the doctrinal purity of the church is a sacred priority for a pastor. Paul did this for three years. While he served the church, he constantly warned them, and he did so with tears. He faithfully taught them the Word of God. He was a good shepherd to his sheep.
This analogy of the sheep and the shepherd is seen clearly in this text. A good shepherd would be diligent to care for his sheep and protect them against the following threats: swollen streams and rivers, animals like wolves and hyenas, birds of prey that would swoop down on a lamb or kid, and most of all, humans who would come to rob the sheepfold and murder the shepherd. (See John MacArthur, Acts 13-28: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, p. 227.)
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