READ:
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Acts 18: 1-3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Romans 16: 3-5
LET’S TALK ABOUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE WOMEN IN THE BIBLE: PRISCILLA.
Christ follower, Tent Maker, Teacher, Encourager, Home Church Hostess & Leader, Devoted Wife of Aquila, and Faithful friend to Paul. She’s only mentioned a few times in the New Testament and we don’t really know much more about her but there are so many things we can learn from her character and reputation. You probably already know this but we all get one life…one life with a certain amount of time to live it. We also all have free will, meaning, we choose what we do with the time we are given. While we are not always in charge of the hands we are dealt in this life, we do choose how to respond and we all make choices every day that ultimately adds up to one life lived. So far, I’ve lived 35 years, 1 month and 13 days and I can attest to the fact that it does not always seem that everything I do has a purpose, and yet I know it does. My days often look the same, very ordinary if I’m honest. I wake up and do the same things day after day. My alarm goes off at the same time, I make my coffee (strong) first thing every day, I let my dogs outside and I prepare for the day ahead (which usually looks very similar to the day before) and I usually forget to remember just how important the day ahead really is. You see in many ways Pricilla was a woman just like you and me, and a powerful life lesson is displayed through her life and faithfulness. She was not all that different from us. She had friends and family and responsibilities and yet she stands out as one of Paul’s dearest friends, and she played a huge role in influencing the early church. Her “mundane” and “ordinary” was super important and we all need to remember that our “mundane” is too. Do you remember the verse in Colossians that says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people?” Let’s take a second and just be thankful for that verse because sometimes in this life we have responsibilities that are not always fun. The older I get the longer the list seems to become, but this verse helps me remember…it’s not about me and it’s not about them…it’s about doing it all for God and His Glory with joy in my heart and a smile on my face. I want to be so in love with Jesus that it doesn’t matter what job I have or how full my kitchen sink is or how many times I must pick up dirty socks or wet towels off of the floor! Someone has to do those things and if I’m doing it for my creator and my savior rather than for myself, my spouse or my children then it becomes just a little bit easier to do. I must remember that I’m setting an example for my husband and my children and my friends and my neighbors and whoever else is watching. My days of laundry and grammar lessons and wiping boogers is not all for naught. My days matter much. It’s time for us all to stop buying into the lie that our days are insignificant, that our job doesn’t matter, that our dentist appointments don’t matter, that our daily to and fro car rides don’t matter because they do more than we’ll probably ever know. I wonder if sometimes it’s hard for us because we feel like no one sees us. I wonder if it’s hard because we don’t see the difference we are making right now or get to experience too much instant gratification from our day-to-day responsibilities being fulfilled. This quote from Andy Stanley encourages me when I start to feel like I work really hard and wonder if any of it even matters:Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do but someone you raise. Andy StanleyAnd might I add, “or someone you encourage or pray for or show up for.” Friends, it all matters. That friendly conversation you have with a Target associate, that smile you give in the grocery store, the kind word you give to your teenager when they don’t seem to deserve a kind word, serving in the nursery at church, that word of encouragement you give to the lady cleaning your teeth…it all matters. Like Pricilla, you’re probably working very hard to keep up with your responsibilities, but take some time to remember just how much what you do matters and if you’re feeling disconnected from God and his purposes for your life, reconnect with him this week. Ask him to remind you why you’re here and how you can bring him glory through your life daily.
PRAY:
Talk to God today about your life, your purpose, and your responsibilities. Ask him to show you how just how beautiful and impactful all your seemingly “ordinary” days are to Him and His kingdom.Today’s post was written by Amanda Sanders.
