Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local, but

instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends

of the earth. Let's join Scott Pauley now for today's study.

No matter how long you live, no matter how much you travel, if you really love people,

goodbyes are always hard. Whether you're leaving for a few days or you think you may

never see someone again, I was reminded not long ago that for believers, it really is never goodbye.

It is see you later because we will meet again one way or another. We're going to spend eternity

together around the throne of God in heaven.

We have a lot to look forward to. But as long as we are here on earth, we are often separated

geographically, sometimes circumstantially, sometimes by choice and sometimes just by the way

things come about in life. Perhaps you did not choose to be separated from those you love,

but that's the way circumstances have been orchestrated.

I say goodbyes are hard.

And if anybody knew that, it was the Apostle Paul,

who was always traveling, always on the move,

this itinerant preacher, always headed to the next place.

We've come today to the end of Acts chapter 20 and to the opening verses of Acts 21

and to multiple reminders that for a child of God, sometimes we have to say goodbye.

And when we do, it's important how we leave those people.

My pastor used to say, people will always remember how you come and how you go.

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