“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks…. Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though 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.” Acts 18:1-4,24-26
“The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 16:19
Leaving their home could not have been easy, but when the Lord providentially moved Priscilla and Aquila from Rome to Corinth, they fell right into His eternal plans. Whether they were expelled for political or religious reasons is not clear, but they trusted God as sovereign and remained committed to their work and ministry wherever He planted them. Working, learning, and serving alongside Paul, they grew in boldness to teach and disciple younger Christians in their understanding of God. Where He moved them, they would spread Him with all His fragrance, and build a church with His love at center.
Often when the Lord interrupts our plans, or moves us unwittingly to new places, we chafe at the change. We fixate on what we cannot now do rather than on what He might be doing anew. We rue the loss rather than expect His gain. We get bogged down with what is hard rather than doing what we can to make things better. The trouble is where we focus, and when it’s on us, we get in the way of His broader and wondrous plans.
What has been our attitude with recent interruptions? Where have we rebuffed the Lord’s advances to woo us closer to Him because of what we will have to rearrange or surrender? Where are we letting fear, anger, impatience, or selfishness impede our moving with Him to a new level or place of work or ministry?
If God has placed us in a new world of circumstances, a new city, a new environment or routine we did not choose, are we accepting it with reluctance, or embracing it with enthusiasm and vigor? How are we infusing it with His love, grace, and light? Maybe others there feel trepidation or loneliness, and know not Christ. Are we selfless enough to take notice of and reach out to them? How are we planting blooms of sweetness, beauty, and fragrance to draw and enrich people around us?
Lord, keep me looking ahead with You, and make me a conduit of Your love, truth, and grace everywhere You place me. (Philippians 3:13-14)
As the rain and snow 