One Last Thing ...

NLT Hebrews 13:20-21 ¶ Now may the God of peace-- who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood-- 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

I love how the Apostle Paul ends his letters. He always puts a gracious and encouraging prayer for the recipients right at the end. Then, sometimes he puts a little "tell so-and-so hello" post-script. Paul's ending prayers always make great benedictions or last words to a congregation at the end of a service. Paul had a great way of saying "Goodbye" and of telling the churches just how much he loved them and prayed for them.

In this letter to the Hebrews, sometimes refuted as only Pauline in style, but not necessarily in authorship, the writer (be it Paul or someone else) ends by putting the focus completely on God and not on himself. He points to God as the one whose power raised Jesus from the dead. He reminds the readers that Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the sheep who ratified an eternal covenant with his own blood. His prayer is what I pray for each of you as you continue to do the work of the Lord Jesus Christ - that work of spreading the Gospel with word and action.

Hear these words of prayer for you: "May God equip you with all you need for doing God's will. May God produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to God. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen."

My prayer is that God will give you all the gifts that you need personally and as a community of faith to continue to build the Kingdom of God. When God provides the gifts through the Holy Spirit, God produces in you all the good fruit that pleases God (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Self-Control, Gentleness, Faithfulness). May you always give the praise to God for all gifts and blessings.

As you welcome your new pastor, I know that you will share with her the gifts that God has given you to help train and prepare her for ministry. I know that you will welcome her, giving her the freedom to share her gifts with you. I know that you will grow and learn in the Lord and that God's Spirit will be alive in you for the benefit of the Kingdom. I know this because this is exactly what you have done with me and with the student pastors who have come before me. Thank God for giving you this gift of warm acceptance and gentle guidance, and thank you for allowing me to share my gifts with you.

God's peace and grace be with you all, now and forever. Amen.