2 Kings 13:1-14:29
Acts 18:23-19:12
Psalm 146:1-10
Proverbs 18:2-3
Picking up the Bible and reading God's Word each day is the greatest transformational tool around. It doesn't matter whether you're a new Christian in spiritual infancy, or have gained wisdom through God's Word and are spiritually mature. God is there with open arms; our Father loves all of His children at any stage of spiritual development. As we propel forward in our faith, God will continue to work through situations to help us grow. This includes growing in our knowledge and understanding of Him.
Both Apollos and the Ephesians had incomplete knowledge about the significance of Jesus' death on the cross and what it meant for them. They knew that John's baptism gave them repentance from sin, but it wasn't the way to receive the Holy Spirit. When you are baptized in the name of the Lord, however, you not only receive repentance for your sins, you also receive a new life in Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
During a recent small group, one of the members was talking about her initial hesitation of becoming a small group leader. She had a fear that people would ask her questions about scripture and that she wouldn't have the knowledge to answer them. She eventually gained the courage to start a small group. She felt that God was telling her that she did not need to have all of the knowledge, that her interpersonal skills and love for the Lord were enough. Her courage to take the first step into the role of small group leader, led to her growing in her faith and greatly influencing those around her. This reminds me of Apollos, a man of great intellect who was well liked by the people. He used his skills to honor the Lord, even though his knowledge of Jesus' life was limited. As he was sharing the Way of the Lord, he was approached by Pricilla and Aquila. They wanted to give him a better understanding of the life of Jesus Christ and how to receive salvation through faith in Him.
God had plans for Apollos, and although Apollos didn't have complete understanding in the beginning, his faith in God provided him with the opportunity to meet people who would help him to grow spiritually and use his skills to influence others. Each of us have skills and talents that should be used for the greater glory of our Lord. If you're not sure what yours are, try to meet with God in prayer and ask Him to reveal them to you. Let's pray that dangerous prayer and ask God to use us. I think we will be amazed at the transformations that occur when we release any resistance and open ourselves up fully to Him.
Dear Lord, please help us to step out of our comfort zones and share our love and knowledge of you with others. Please let any fears of lacking be dismissed, and allow us to embrace the opportunities of discipleship that you provide us with. Thank you, Lord, for your everlasting love and guidance. Please help us to continue to grow in our faith and branch out in unexpected ways that help to grow your kingdom.
Amen.
Amanda and Anthony
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