Day 292 "Doing Something With What You Have"

 

Passage: Acts 18:27a

 

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.

 

Devotion:

 

Previously, Apollos had been speaking boldly in the synagogue about Jesus as the Messiah. Although he taught accurately and thoroughly about Jesus, the one really big part he was missing was the part about Jesus being the resurrected Son of God. That is a really big hole in anyone's knowledge. Enter Priscilla and Aquila. Taught by Paul himself, they took Apollos under their wing, and in verse 26, "...invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately."

 

In our passage today, God has now called the fully prepared Apollos to serve in Achaia. Let's look at how God did so a little more closely:

1. God prepared him. In previous devotions we've discussed many factors involved in Apollos' preparation, beginning with his birth and education in Alexandria (the center of culture and academic pursuits), and ultimately with the "fine-tuning" of his training by Priscilla and Aquila.
2. God called him.  How do we know God called him? Because he wanted to go. If you love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37), it stands to reason that wherever the Lord needs you, He will give you the desire to go. Apollos wanted to go to Achaia.
3. God's people sent him. Apollos was fully encouraged and supported by the church ("the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.").

 

In retrospect, all of the events that led Apollos to Achaia may look rather intricate, and indeed they are. However, it is all in the Lord's design and rather than worry about how it all fits together, we function much better when we just focus on the here and now. That's one of the things I really like about Apollos, he always seemed to stay in the present.

 

Questions to Ponder:

 

Apollos was trained in the Scriptures so he went to the synagogue; he was taught about Jesus' baptism so he accurately spoke about Jesus the Messiah; he then learned about the Resurrection and wanted to go to Achaia. Apollos always did something with what he had. He didn't wait for something more before he began. That is a really great lesson for us all to apply in our own lives. What are you waiting for before you begin to serve the Lord. What has the Lord placed upon your heart? Where do you want to go? Maybe it is time to get started right now. Trust the Lord, He will provide whatever you need.