Her name was Priscilla, the wife of Aquilla. They were tent-makers by profession.
“Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.”
(Acts 18:3, NLT)
For a while, Paul stayed with them because he was a tent-maker as well In the time he was with them, Paul reasoned and taught them in the Scriptures.
They must have learned well because when an Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus, they realized he had quite a bit of knowledge in the Scriptures. But his understanding was limited. They took him under their tutelage and helped to understand the ways of God more accurately.
Tent making was a simple job during the day in which Priscilla lived. Yet it was a big task in the eyes of God. He used it in a more far reaching way than she could have imagined.
We are investing each day in the lives of those around us. We may not see how or the effect, but we are impacting those around us daily.
"There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NLT)
The simplest of tasks may be greater than what it seems to the eye:
- when we are working shoulder to shoulder in our places of employment,
- as we change diapers, clean up a mess, or pat the back of a toddler as they nod off to sleep,
- in the supermarket or at the bank,
- serve in church,
- or sitting quietly at home praying for friends and family.
May we trust and not doubt for God has equipped each of us with exactly the gifts needed to encourage and bless those who He has placed in our lives.
“We are each given different gifts and talents by our Master. The thing that matters most is how we use what we have been given, not how much we make or do compared to someone else. What matters is that we spend ourselves.” (Francis Chan)
Photo by mrjn Photography on Unsplash
I remember when we were caring for my husband's mother feeling entirely spent at times. I was encouraged by Paul's saying he was poured out like a drink offering. Some days of motherhood ended with that same feeling. It's such a good reminder that ministry is not just ticking off boxes, but spending ourselves. And God graciously gives us what we need to do so again the next day.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, you have said it just beautifully - "Ministry is not just ticking off boxes, but spending ourselves." May we be willing and have hearts ever dependent on God for what we need.
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