| Can you try to imagine what it must have been like to | | | | equally right to hurry on elsewhere, but always being |
| have a teacher like Paul, that man who was Saul of | | | | resolved to keep in the centre of the will of God. |
| Tarsus, teaching you for around a year and a half? | | | | Occasionally, we have to say "No" to people, and that |
| When a much loved and favourite Professor retired at | | | | can require as much courage and determination as |
| New College, Edinburgh, Scotland, the following year's | | | | when we realise God would have us say "Yes" to |
| students were really quite disappointed. Having had the | | | | people. |
| privilege of sitting under the authoritative and | | | | It is vital to say the right word in the appropriate |
| comprehensive teaching of James S. Stewart for two | | | | circumstances, and this not always easy to |
| years, I can understand how these other men felt. | | | | accomplish. |
| Having preached and taught in Corinth for 18 months, it | | | | Paul promised to return to Ephesus, and he did. |
| was time for Paul to leave. | | | | Wherever Paul went among disciples of Jesus he had |
| Saying 'Farewell' to Paul would be filled with emotion, | | | | one aim and that was to teach, strengthen and |
| but he had trained men to give sound and solid spiritual | | | | encourage. |
| leadership to this newly birthed fellowship. You will find | | | | He never sought to impress, amuse and entertain, nor |
| the details of this in Acts Chapter 18 in the New | | | | would he accommodate certain tastes, giving people |
| Testament part of the Bible. | | | | what they might like to hear, and that comes across |
| Sailing over to Ephesus, Paul makes for the | | | | most vividly in his letters. |
| synagogue and seeks to win Jews for Jesus. | | | | Here is a man who knows what will help people |
| After all the ridicule and suffering he has experienced | | | | develop and mature spiritually, and that is what he |
| at the hands of unbelieving Jews, his continuing goal is | | | | feeds them. He knew how to make eternal |
| to reach that chosen race with the mercy and love of | | | | investments in the loves of all kinds of men and |
| God, which can be received only through Jesus Christ. | | | | women. These investments will produce fruitful returns |
| Some wanted Paul to remain longer, but he declines | | | | and dividends which mere financial investments can |
| the invitation to stay and not to linger. What a lesson! | | | | never dream of achieving. Make sure you make wise |
| We must be where Jesus wants us to be. Sometimes | | | | investments whenever you can. |
| it is right to remain in a city and at other times it is | | | | |