The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:7-12, “And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
8 And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.
9 And there was a certain young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down and fell upon him and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”
11 And when he had gone back up, and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.
12 And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.”

There’s a cute little story of a small boy who was asked which preacher he liked best: the pastor or the bishop.
He said he liked the pastor best because he says, “Finally,” at it is final. But the bishop says, “Lastly,” and it lasts and lasts and lasts. Well, the Apostle Paul could have been classed with the bishop because “he prolonged his message until midnight.” What’s more, no one is registered as having complained. We wouldn’t dare turn off the TV before the game was over, but we all-too-often wish the pastor had shortened his message.

The Greek word for “young man” is neanias. Friberg says it is an older, unmarried boy, somewhere around 24 or so years of age. In any event, it seems he was too old to have fallen asleep during Paul’s message –and on the very eve of his departure. It was probably quite warm in that crowded, upper room, and Eutychus had positioned himself on the window sill, blocking what cooler air there might have been from outside. All of this prompts me to ask: do you choose the best seat in church for yourself, despite the needs of others? And do you truly concentrate on what your pastor says in his sermons? Or does your mind wander as you wonder if and when he will conclude?

You will probably (and hopefully) will never suffer death, as with Eutychus. And were you to die, there might not be one present like Paul who could miraculously revive you. Was the young man, Eutychus, used of Satan to distract the people from Paul’s message? Probably. Do you allow distractions to steer you away from the message of the Word? Hopefully not! We are living in very troublesome times. We drastically need the message of God’s Word! Yes, ministers are responsible to teach and instruct us; and we are responsible to hear and obey.
I pray for my pastors daily, even as I pray for you. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa 46:1).

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom