The final word.

"And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified."

(Acts 20:32)

I've been blessed to serve 4 churches in my 24 years of ministry (and counting!). Even more than my first Sunday at those churches, I distinctly remember my LAST Sundays (and the Sundays I had to announce I would be leaving). Those days were always filled with a variety of emotions - including many tears. (I've been blessed to have been loved by so many!)

The apostle Paul traveled. A lot. Had there been "frequent flier miles" (or frequent sailor, or frequent caravan) back in his day, he'd have been traveling on first-class upgrades all the time! But on what would be his final journey to Jerusalem, Paul swung by some of the church communities he'd help launch, including Ephesus. He then takes some time to "say goodbye" to the beloved people of Ephesus. One of his final words are: "I commend you to God and to the message of his grace."

I love that. What's the ONE THING you'd say about God, if you had to leave a person with a single message? I'd echo Paul. GRACE. God's overwhelming (and unmerited) love and favor. For all. In fact, when I first came to Palmdale UMC, my initial sermon series was on the parables of grace!

Paul goes on to say that God's grace is able to "build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified." What more could you ask for? To be uplifted and counted among God's redeemed?!?

So may it be. For all of us. AMEN.