Acts 18
Sometimes it seems like missionaries are
given all the credit (and responsibility) for growing the Church. This isn’t really fair or right. Theologically speaking, it is God who grows
the Church, calling, gathering, and enlightening people by the Holy Spirit, and
preserving those of us who are Christians in the faith. Practically speaking, it ignores the millions
of lay people who, through simple daily faithful lives, share the gospel with
others.
Aquila and Priscilla are a good example
of this. They were Jewish tentmakers who
became believers. While it might seem
that a major part of their contribution to the Kingdom of God was supporting
Paul, their contribution is much greater than that. For instance, take a look at their
interaction with Apollos.
Apollos was a missionary with most, but
not all, of the message. He believed in
Jesus, but only knew about John’s baptism for repentance. He didn’t know that Jesus had instituted
Baptism as a life-giving, sin-washing, disciple-making gift. He didn’t fully understand the greatness of
the grace Jesus delivers through the Word and Sacraments.
On a Sabbath day, Aquila and Priscilla
went to the synagogue just as they regularly did and they heard Apollos. They saw in him a brother in Christ. They recognized his talent, but also his
short fall. Did they call him out? Lecture him?
Argue in the synagogue? No. It says, “they took him and explained to him
the way of God more accurately.” (I
imagine the encounter beginning something like this: “That was a really interesting sermon. How’d you like to come over for lunch?”)
Aquila and Priscilla’s kindness to
Apollos (and his humility to hear the Word from them) changed the course of his
career, such that Paul would later recognize his service evangelizing the
world.
God’s grace allows us to speak the truth
to one another gently, kindly, and in love.
It happens every day and God uses people like you and me to do so for
the sake of His Kingdom. It happens as
God uses us, citizens of His Kingdom, to love the world on His behalf.
Father, thank you for making me part of Your
Kingdom. Help me to recognize how You
can and do use my life to reach my
neighbors. Amen.
Comments