Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.
Acts 20:31 NET
What would it have been like to be in a church where Paul was the pastor? It is hard to know what that would be like. But you would have been immersed in Scripture. Paul spent three years in Ephesus. During that time, he taught daily (Acts 19:9), both publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20), teaching them all they needed to be faithful followers of the Lord Jesus.
But this was more than just an endless Bible study. Paul also warned them about false teachers who would try to sneak in and lead them astray. He told them to be alert and watch out for them. And his warnings were not just an occasional occurrence. He repeatedly warned them night and day the whole time he was with them. And he did so with tears. His warnings were given out of love and the fear of what these false teachers would do if given the chance.
Many today seem satisfied with a brief glimpse into the Scriptures once a week. And most seem to prefer keeping it simple without any real challenge. So, is it any wonder that so many today have a shallow faith and are easily led into error?
If you are a teacher or preacher, I encourage you to follow Paul’s example. Teach the whole of the Scripture, diving deep into God’s word, and feeding the flock. And be careful to warn them about the evil one and his followers who will go to great lengths to lead God’s people astray.
All of us, as believers, should immerse ourselves in Scripture. Read and meditate on it daily. Never grow weary of feeding on God’s word, growing ever deeper as you do. Put into practice what you read, being doers of the word (Jam. 1:22-25). And take to heart the repeated warnings to be faithful and guard against teaching that is contrary to the Scripture.
