Knee Deep in Prayer

As I have been reading through the book of Acts and following the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul along with his co-workers, I was struck by this incident where Paul meets up with the elders from Ephesus in Miletus.  He had formerly been in Ephesus, spent some three years there, and now on his way to Jerusalem meets up with them in Miletus.

Paul has a rather lengthy discussion with them and mentions that he had spoke the whole purpose of God to them.  He held nothing back.  He realized that he had suffered persecution and imprisonment and acknowledges that it might happen again.  He also acknowledges that he wants to finish the ministry to which he had been called!

We read here in regard to Paul:  "When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.  There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again.  Then they brought him to the ship."  Acts 20:36-38

Can you begin to capture the scene and what an emotional time it must have been?

I believe we in the church need to realize that if we want to do faithful witnessing there will be hard times ahead for us.  There will be rejection and obstacles.  Are we ready to endure?  Yes, it comes with the territory.  When we do get down on our knees in prayer, it indicates that we take our calling seriously.  It also shows that we are willing to depend on God's power to work through us.