Can you relate?
A Jewish man by the name of Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was recognized as an educated and cultured man. He was powerful in the Scriptures.~ Acts 18:24
I’ve always been a laborer my whole life where I worked in service and manual work. I didn’t go to college. Oh, I had some continuing education along the way when I spent time in management, but as far as formal education is concerned, I have been very limited. Even in the Scriptures, I grew up in a pastor’s home, so faith and God’s Word were always the number one priority. However, the only instruction and guidance since then has been through books, sermons, and the Holy Spirit.
This reality could be a restricting fact when it comes to encouraging and ministering to others. Because I write now, I sometimes find myself thinking about my lack of education and even considering that I am not qualified to write at all. I know this isn’t true, but it has been a barrier in the past that I have had to overcome more than once. I am always amazed at God’s goodness when I find myself in situations where I get to pray with and encourage others. My experiences, although many were through bad choices on my part, have given me wisdom to press into God in this season and to follow the leading of His Spirit. That is where I find peace and also where I know that no matter how limited my education is, He qualifies me for every good work and ministry He has planned for me.
In today’s reading, we meet Apollos. He was an educated man and full of culture. He was also trained in Scripture, which made him a very charismatic and convincing teacher. However, when Aquila and Priscilla met him, they took him aside and taught him about being filled with the Holy Spirit. As educated and intelligent as Apollos was, he still had more to learn, and he was wise enough to receive it with humility. He did not let the pride of his schooling stop him from learning from those who were tentmakers/laborers by trade.
Likewise, Aquila and Priscilla were gracious and loving as they helped Apollos understand what he was missing. They did not let his superior training intimidate them, and they did not let their own simple position hold them back from sharing the truth. They used their work and daily life as a tool to reach others, no matter their status. They understood that God’s love and salvation is the equal ground that everyone needs.
Chances are you can relate to someone in this passage. Maybe it is Apollos, the educated and gifted man, or perhaps it is Aquila and Priscilla, the ordinary laborers. Either way, the message is clear: we all have something to give, and we all have something to learn. The key is humility and grace.
Practical ways to apply this passage and get started:
• Ask the Lord to show you who in your life can teach you something new, even if they seem less qualified by the world’s standards
• Be willing to listen with humility when God places people in your path who speak truth into your life
• Use the opportunities in your daily work and relationships as a platform to encourage others with God’s Word
• Remember that your past, no matter how difficult, can be a bridge to minister to someone else who is struggling today
• Commit to being both a learner and a teacher, receiving from others and also giving freely what God has poured into you
Today I want to encourage you to see yourself in this passage and take courage that no matter your background or education, God has called and qualified you. Just as Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla each had a role in building the Kingdom, so do you. Do not let intimidation or comparison hold you back. God’s grace is enough to equip you, and He will use your story as a powerful testimony in the lives of others.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 18:24-28
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Journal:
- Who do I see myself most like in this passage: Apollos, Aquila, or Priscilla?
- What voices has God brought into my life that I need to listen to with humility?
- How can I use my own background and experiences to encourage someone God has placed in my path?
The Daily Dose 