LIVING AND LOVING IN LOVE

Good day friends and happy weekend.

I must confess i had several moments of confusion while choosing the appropriate topic for today's bible passage from the New testament:

Acts 18: 23-28
After staying in Antioch some time,
Paul left and traveled in orderly sequence
through the Galatian country and Phrygia,
bringing strength to all the disciples.

A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria,
an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus.
He was an authority on the Scriptures.
He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and,
with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,
although he knew only the baptism of John.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue;
but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
they took him aside
and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.
And when he wanted to cross to Achaia,
the brothers encouraged him
and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.
After his arrival he gave great assistance
to those who had come to believe through grace.
He vigorously refuted the Jews in public,
establishing from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila who are the new recruits of Paul and co. displayed a great deal of respect to Apollos who was an eloquent speaker, but a "newbie" in the business of Christ; infact he (apollos) knows only what John the baptist said about him.

The spirit of oneness displayed in the reading also comes to mind. Despite being a "rogue" preacher with no known master, Paul's followers were still able to identify and associate with Apollos, bearing in mind they are fighting the same course. After teaching him all they knew to aid him without asking for a "cent", they wrote a letter of recommendation to their "oga"(boss) for his acceptance, not minding his tribe or race.

I was about to choose " oneness" as my topic when Apollos's submission and humility
strucked my mind. Let's not forget this man is well educated and very eloquent. He only doesn't know much about Christ because grace rather than brilliance is needed for the things of the kingdom. He never argued or emphasized superiority as opposed to the ways of our present day religious leaders. He learnt obediently and added value to others' lives from all he learnt.

Then i thought of our quest to have more than others, which leads to selfishness. Priscilla and Aquila were able to give freely to Apollos without reservations and many were saved through their simple act of selflessness. No account of discrimination or selfishness was recorded about the event. No one wants to be more knowledgeable than the other since it's all to the glory of God.

Apollos' total submission to God's will after he knew enough about Christ also captivated me. He even left his ministry to team up with others. Proclamation of the kingdom of God was all he cared for.

I became utterly confused about my choice of a befitting title. Then a voice said to my mind: "choose with love in mind". Then i understood better: " its all about Christ's love".

source

That Priscilla and Aquila spoke with respect to Apollos was a result of God's love that had filled their hearts. They could as well rubbished his teachings in public and tagged him a false or fake preacher as many of our pastors do now. The evidence is much on youtube and other medias.

There can't also be oneness or togetherness without love. The pair forgot Apollos' limitations and were ready to give him their all to ensure his success in his ministry despite his ignorance of the "Word".

Apollos would not have noticed and reciprocated their (Priscilla and Aquila) great acts of love if he's not a man of love himself. He would have seen their gestures as an opportunity to insult and rubbish him like many would go against corrections and new ideas. He instead heard them, digested their tutorials and welcomed them with love.

He did not go straight to strengthen his ministry. He probably wouldn't have been talked about as a virtuous man today if he did that. He instead joined his new acquaintances in spreading the word of God. We know of many leaders who would instead reinforce their group and choose not to "bow" for the sake of pride and greediness.

Friends, various acts of love embodied all the words and actions of the bible in the book of Acts. Love is all they breathed, talked, preached and lived. They could overcome all challenges and do many great works because they lived in love.

We are also called upon today to live our lives in love for one another. This is the greatest commandment of God and the divine mandate of Christ.

All our religious, political and tribal differences can be balanced only by mutual love for one another. Love would make us understand and follow the scriptures for it would be written in our hearts. It will also help us forgive unreservedly and live peacefully.

We are charged henceforth to talk in love, hope in love, care with love, pray for love, judge with love, correct with love and live in love. As followers of Christ love should be our watchword and our actions must always display us, so that those around may love God and neighbor through us.

"Oh that today you listen to His voice, harden not your heart."

May the Lord bless His words in our hearts. Amen.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm @tomfreeman!