Obtained With His Own Blood (Acts 20:28)

 


Saturday, 23 August, 2025


Psalms 124; 125; 126

2 Samuel 23:1-23

Acts 20:17-38


Obtained With His Own Blood (Acts 20:28)


Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.


Something I personally find admirable about St Paul is his single-minded focus. While he is human like the rest of us, he still manages to keep focused on the really important things. His exhortation to the church at Ephesus is one example.


He gives us a wonderful definition of the Gospel (which is helpful, because sometimes it feels like the word “gospel” can mean any number of things). St Paul’s definition is this: “repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 21). How wonderfully simple and beautifully concise! And, at the same time, so widely applicable that whether we are a bishop at Ephesus or a 21st Century Brisbanite, it can help us discern every step of our life journey.


His high value on this gospel message as he has defined it leads to his pastoral application: the Church is the most precious thing in the world, because we have been bought with nothing less than the infinitely valuable blood of Jesus. That includes us, too.


How precious to God do you think you are? Do you value yourself as highly as your Creator values you?


God of good news, who values us as much as your own life: teach us our sense of worth in your eyes, as people bought by nothing less than the blood of Jesus.

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