A Final Charge

If you could give a final charge to someone you love, what would it be?

As a teacher, I think about this every year when the school year is coming to an end. Last year in particular, I had a little girl who I knew would be in an emotionally and physically unsafe environment everyday without the protection of school as a break. Throughout the year she had been one of the kiddos who had given me the hardest time. I had battled to break into her world, to know her, and to earn her trust. So, on the last day that I would see her for the school year, I pulled her aside. I had of course thought about what I would share, but wasn’t so sure about how the delivery would go. I looked into her eyes and said “No matter what, you need to know that you are valuable. No matter what anyone else tells you, you are valuable, and I need you to remember that.” For the briefest moment as I saw teardrops swelling in her eyes, I knew. I knew I had gotten a glimpse into this young girl's heartbreak, and the healing words she so deeply needed to hear.

Isn’t it that way with the ones we care about the most? The people who have nestled in, and found the compassion in our hearts? Whether it’s a student, a family member, a friend, a partner, or a coworker, shouldn't we wish to impress upon them the compassion we have received from God, that they so desperately need? Aren’t we meant to do this with one another in our time of fellowship as Christians? 

This is exactly how Paul ends his letter to his dear friends in Ephesus. He reminds them of where he is coming from (literally, he reminds them AGAIN that he is in chains in jail). He then reminds them of the heart they ought to have. Paul speaks to the experiences and the needs of his friends regarding unity knowing they need to remember what Christ gave to them, why he gave it to them, and how they are meant to continually attain it.

The Ephesian church needed to grow, and they needed each other to do so. Despite the frustrations I can only imagine they felt amongst each other as their upbringings, past lives as gentiles, and traditions clashed, they needed one another. No matter how dissimilar they may be in their personal lives, by “speaking the truth in love”, they would “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” In his final words, Paul goes on to give his friends useful tools on how to mature in their thinking along with their speech. He finally says “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 

In reflecting upon Paul's words, what does your heart need to hear today? What is it you need to share with someone you care about? Remember that God sees exactly what your heart needs to know. Our Holy spirit knows the words that you can allow to come out of your mouth to bring compassion and unity to one of your fellow believers. So what is it? What is that “final charge” He is pressing upon your heart? Just maybe, you should go out and speak it.