We Will Take Heed!
By C.S. Bezas

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

Paul gave the above counsel after having served in an amazing way. A young man named Eutychus sat in a recessed window-area in an upper chamber, stationed high above the apostle Paul and his preaching. During Paul's discourse, the young man fell asleep and fell down "from the third loft, and was taken up dead" (Acts 20:7-9).

The apostle Paul embraced the lad, raised him from the dead, and counseled the others that the young man would live. Which, indeed, Eutychus finally did. Those who knew the boy greatly rejoiced, yet Paul had already left for his next journey. He needed no praise. He apparently knew that the life of a servant of God flowed on a continuing road of effort.

In fact, Paul was making haste with his fellow travelers, because his goal was to arrive at Jerusalem by Pentecost. In meeting with the elders of the church during this journey, he shared with them of his travails and efforts he had made serving God's children. Yet, even not knowing what would befall him once he arrived in Jerusalem, he still celebrated the joy he'd received in the service he'd given his God.

He witnessed to his fellow travelers that he was "pure from the blood of all men…" due to his full-hearted efforts to witness to all of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul proceeded then to prophesy of an apostasy that would settle in to what he'd worked so hard to build. It is then that he shared the inspiring wisdom recorded in Acts 20:28, a philosophy he lived himself:

Wise counsel indeed on how to deal with the pending apostasy. It is one we should heed today. And as he finished his moving speech, the men with him were brought to tears and great emotion at his (apparent) final farewell.

Paul's Amazing Example

What an amazing man Paul was. Having turned from his previous persecution of any Christian soul he could find, he now was willing to suffer "stripes" along with them for Him whom he loved. What was it that Paul had learned, that sustained him to such degree that he wasn't moved by trials and he wasn't disheartened that spiritual wolves would enter in to destroy so much of what he'd worked for? Instead, he simply trained those who would listen as to what they should do.

It might be simple to say, "Well, look at the amazing experience he had that got him going!" (see Acts 9). But there are scriptural accounts where men have had amazing visitations, dreams, or other experiences — yet they did not move with such fire and faith afterwards (i.e. 1 Ne. 3:29).

Truly, the apostle Paul was an amazing man. He had a perspective of the importance of this life and the time given to each of us within this realm to prepare to meet God. Even in spite of being stoned and left for dead by Jews, Paul refused to give in. He rose to preach of the Christ again! (see Acts 14:19-21)

What an inspiration Paul was, up to his very last breath. What a text to study — his inspired words of hope found in his Pauline Epistles (see "Pauline Epistles," Bible Dictionary, for a list of his letters to the saints).

Thus, on frustrating or dreary days as gospel teachers, when we feel like giving up or in or that we aren't reaching our students, let us continue forward in faith. The apostle Paul did. Paul said to "take heed." He lived that urgent message. If that counsel was good enough for Paul to live by, surely it is good enough for us.

"Take heed," we will! And in following that valiant path Paul trod, we will not give up nor in ? not up to our very last breath.

C.S. Bezas' new book, Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping Youth Find Their Spiritual Wings, is now available at most LDS bookstores and online here.