“But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.”
Acts 20:17 (NLT)
Paul could not be in two places at the same time. He loved the church in Ephesus, but he was hurrying toward Jerusalem, carrying help for believers who were suffering. So instead of going where he probably wanted to go, he stayed on the path in front of him. But, God. Paul may not have had time to go through Ephesus, but he did have time to pause in Miletus and call the leaders to him.
That one decision mattered. It was better for Paul’s timeline, because he did not have to slow down the journey. It was better for the leaders, because they were fully trusted to carry their work as leaders in the communities where they actually lived. And it was better for the people in Ephesus, because the ones shepherding them every day were being strengthened by Paul without the noise and interruptions of daily ministry.
I wonder if there are people we think we are too busy to stop and meet with. Maybe we cannot go everywhere or be at everything, but we can still pause, invite someone close, and invest deeply. There may be key people in our family, ministry, business, church, or circle of friends who need more than a passing word. They may need a retreat, a conversation, a moment away from the distractions so we can instruct, bless, encourage, and strengthen one another.
That is the ministry of multiplication, not addition. When we disciple, encourage, and strengthen others, we get to share in the ministry God does through them, even when we are not physically there. So today, who do you think you are too busy to stop and meet with? Who do you need to invest in? And where do you need to trust that your impact may be greater through someone else than by trying to be at all the things yourself? Trusting someone else to carry work we care about is one way we surrender our desire to control and abide in Jesus as the true Shepherd.