I came from the Father and have come into the world;
now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. JN 16:18
ACTS 18:23-28
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In today's passage, as we read about the gifts that Apollos possessed and those he lacked and how the more mature disciples in the faith assisted and trained him, we learn what is required to be an effective evangelist.
Apollos was an eloquent speaker, he was an authority on Scriptures (Old Testament), he was instructed in the Way of the Lord and had an ardent spirit, he spoke boldly and taught accurately about Jesus, however, he had only received the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila explained to him the way of God more accurately so he could preach sound doctrine. He was then sent to assist the disciples and he was received warmly. He was an able assistant because he was well-grounded and rooted in Scriptures and sound doctrine and hence was able to refute those who opposed him.
We cannot become effective evangelists if we are ignorant.
PSALM 47:2-3, 8-10
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Today we are reminded that You are King of all the earth. We need not be afraid rather, we must be joyful for we know that we have an awesome God who loves us and cares for us. No harm will come to those who are called by Your Name.
You are holy and all You do is holy. To You is due all praise, honor, and glory. You are seated at the right hand of the Father and all creation worships You and to You is given all rule, all authority, and dominion.
JOHN 16:23B-28
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Your heartfelt, comforting, tender, and loving farewell discourse was not only addressed to Your disciples then but to us as well and to all future generations too, until You return in glory.
We lack the courage to ask boldly for what we need perhaps because we are afraid to let go of the temporal, or are afraid of what discipleship will cost us. You ask us to strive after holiness and perfection and we focus on our own inability to let go of our weaknesses, our sins, our creature comforts, the desires of the flesh rather than trusting You to help us.
By ourselves we can do nothing. That is abundantly clear. But with You, everything and anything is possible however we must make that leap of faith. We have only to look at the lives of saints to see how their lives turned out once they yielded to You and to the Holy Spirit.
We are all sinners, born in sin but with Your help and all the grace, You make available we can be filled with the joy that comes from abiding in Your Spirit, joy that no one can take from us.
Beloved, give me the courage to ask boldly for all that You desire to give me and the humility to recognize that even to ask needs grace. You will have to do it all my Lord, You have to give me the desire to be holy, the will to be holy, and the grace to be holy every moment of every day.
now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. JN 16:18
ACTS 18:23-28
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
In today's passage, as we read about the gifts that Apollos possessed and those he lacked and how the more mature disciples in the faith assisted and trained him, we learn what is required to be an effective evangelist.
Apollos was an eloquent speaker, he was an authority on Scriptures (Old Testament), he was instructed in the Way of the Lord and had an ardent spirit, he spoke boldly and taught accurately about Jesus, however, he had only received the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila explained to him the way of God more accurately so he could preach sound doctrine. He was then sent to assist the disciples and he was received warmly. He was an able assistant because he was well-grounded and rooted in Scriptures and sound doctrine and hence was able to refute those who opposed him.
We cannot become effective evangelists if we are ignorant.
PSALM 47:2-3, 8-10
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Today we are reminded that You are King of all the earth. We need not be afraid rather, we must be joyful for we know that we have an awesome God who loves us and cares for us. No harm will come to those who are called by Your Name.
You are holy and all You do is holy. To You is due all praise, honor, and glory. You are seated at the right hand of the Father and all creation worships You and to You is given all rule, all authority, and dominion.
JOHN 16:23B-28
My Beloved, Soul of my soul,
Your heartfelt, comforting, tender, and loving farewell discourse was not only addressed to Your disciples then but to us as well and to all future generations too, until You return in glory.
We lack the courage to ask boldly for what we need perhaps because we are afraid to let go of the temporal, or are afraid of what discipleship will cost us. You ask us to strive after holiness and perfection and we focus on our own inability to let go of our weaknesses, our sins, our creature comforts, the desires of the flesh rather than trusting You to help us.
By ourselves we can do nothing. That is abundantly clear. But with You, everything and anything is possible however we must make that leap of faith. We have only to look at the lives of saints to see how their lives turned out once they yielded to You and to the Holy Spirit.
We are all sinners, born in sin but with Your help and all the grace, You make available we can be filled with the joy that comes from abiding in Your Spirit, joy that no one can take from us.
Beloved, give me the courage to ask boldly for all that You desire to give me and the humility to recognize that even to ask needs grace. You will have to do it all my Lord, You have to give me the desire to be holy, the will to be holy, and the grace to be holy every moment of every day.
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