Acts 18:26-27-He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,
Some of the things we get “hung up” on in society and in the Church are “titles”. Which are needed for the sake of qualifications, and order within organizations and businesses, etc. But I believe titles can subconsciously limit us from thinking we have the right or even the obligation to fulfill, what we might leave for those with a title…
For example, being a teacher doesn’t disqualify a parent from teaching their children. The teacher is trained in a subject and qualified to teach that subject, but as a parent, that shouldn’t keep me from thinking I can add something if it’s valid, right? Yet even children begin to buy into this concept, that knowledge and wisdom is “title based”, when they are suspicious of any advice people don’t have a title for, or an accomplishment in…
I believe this is part of the fallout of losing “absolute truth” as being non-debatable, no matter who gives it! I remember listening to my grandparents who didn’t graduate high school, say things that “ring true” to this day. But when I was younger, it was assumed in my family to listen and ponder things that older folks would tell you. Their “title” or lack of accomplishments in education, had nothing to do with the validity of what they said if it was true…
In the passage above, Apollos was a very gifted preacher, known for his gift, yet still had room to be taught by people who didn’t have a title, only a name. The fascinating part about the passage was that he listened, not because they had a PhD, but because listening to the truth was about wanting the truth for Christ sake! Being educated or having a prestigious title doesn’t equate to being truthful and godly! (Acts 18:24-25, Revelation 3:1)
Grace is a desire from God to want the truth, even if it comes from a child. Like Apollos, we cannot grow if we presume upon people or even stories from the Bible we have read over and over. That is to be dull of hearing. We become “dull”, whenever we assume we can’t receive knowledge and wisdom from anywhere or from anybody. Had Apollos allowed his gift to define him, he wouldn’t have been open to allow truth to rebuke him. When Jesus and the truth is our goal, we are open to receive from anybody, and remove biases because we live by grace and truth. (Mark 4:23-25, Mark 10:14-15, John 1:17, Hebrews 5:11-13)
In His Love, Ld
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