Though we’re far away from those we love, they are never far from God.

亲爱的人虽然远离，但上帝却在他们身边。

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up. Acts 20:32

如今我把你们交托上帝和祂恩惠的道；这道能建立你们。-使徒行传20章32节

I had a lump in my throat as I said good-bye to my niece on the eve of her move to Massachusetts to attend graduate school at Boston University. Though she had been away four years as an undergraduate, she hadn’t left our state. A two and a one-half-hour drive easily reunited us. Now she would be more than 800 miles away. No longer would we meet regularly to talk. I had to trust that God would take care of her.

在侄女准备到麻州就读波士顿大学研究所的前夕，我在向她道别的那一刻，不禁哽咽。虽然读大学的那四年她就已离家，但当时还未跨出州境，只要两个半小时的车程就能和她碰面，可是现在她将离家1,200公里了。我们再也无法经常见面聊天，我只能相信上帝必看顾她。

Paul likely felt the same way as he said good-bye to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Having established the church and taught them for three years, Paul concluded these elders to be as close as family to him. Now that Paul was headed to Jerusalem, he would not see them again.

当保罗跟以弗所教会的长老们告别时，或许也是这样的心情。他建立了这间教会，并且教导他们达三年之久。保罗说这些长老对他而言，就如家人般亲近。那时，保罗将前往耶路撒冷，再也见不到他们了。

But Paul had parting advice for the Ephesians. Though they would no longer have Paul as their teacher, the Ephesians did not have to feel abandoned. God would continue to train them through “the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32) to lead the church. Unlike Paul, God would always be with them.

但保罗给以弗所教会留下了临别赠言。虽然保罗无法继续教导他们，以弗所的信徒却不必感到被遗弃，因为上帝将继续以祂“恩惠的道”（使徒行传20章32节）来培育他们成为教会的领袖。保罗会离开他们，但上帝将永远与他们同在。

Whether it’s children we launch from the nest or other family and friends who move away—saying good-bye can be very difficult. They move beyond our influence and into their new lives. When we let go of their hands, we can trust that God has them in His. He can continue to shape their lives and meet their real needs—more than we ever could.

无论是儿女将要离巢，或是亲友远去他方，与人道别并不容易。他们将离开我们的身边，展开新的生活。当我们放开他们的手时，要相信上帝必牵着他们的手。祂将继续塑造他们的生命，满足他们真正的需要，远超过我们所能做的。

Lord, help us to trust that Your watchful care extends 

over those we hold dear who are far away from us.

主啊，求祢帮助我们相信，
祢必眷顾保守我们心所爱、远在他乡的亲友们。

Acts 20:17-20New International Version (NIV)

17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

使徒行传 20:17-20Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

17 保罗从米利都打发人往以弗所去，请教会的长老来。 18 他们来了，保罗就说：“你们知道自从我到亚细亚的日子以来，在你们中间始终为人如何， 19 服侍主凡事谦卑，眼中流泪，又因犹太人的谋害经历试炼。 20 你们也知道，凡于你们有益的，我没有一样避讳不说的，或在众人面前，或在各人家里，我都教导你们。

整理：于姊妹