God certainly wants to see His followers help one another in proclaiming the gospel. There are two aspects to helping one another…. looking to help those we can help and being humble enough to accept counsel and help from others.
Those who are wise accept rebuke and wise counsel and grow wiser.
Proverbs 9:9 9Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
Apollos was an eloquent man and well versed in the scriptures. He had fervent spirit and was out there proclaiming and teaching about Yeshua. He was none the less incomplete in his understanding of the gospel. Priscilla and Aquilla reached out to him to teach him and encourage him, refining his teaching while still building upon his enthusiasm and talents. They did not dismiss him or reject him because he did not have it all quite right. They went out of their way to help him grow.
Equally important is the fact that Apollos was humble enough to listen and admit he did not understand everything perfectly. He took the wise counsel and became even more effective servant for Christ. What a wonderful series of events to watch those who learned from Paul reach out to help others in effectively and accurately sharing the truth of Yeshua!
Third Missionary Journey
23And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26and he began to speak out 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. 27And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
When we work together as a body of Christ to help one another in understanding and in the logistics of evangelism we are stronger than when we divide ourselves and attack one another… or even just choose not to help.
Has God put someone in your path that is reaching out to help you better understand the scriptures? Are you humble enough to listen and prayerfully consider if it is a helpful course correction you should follow?
Is God calling you to graciously help reach out to someone who may have great talents and enthusiasm, but may benefit from your counsel on the scriptures? Are you obeying and reaching out to that person?
Let us each consider how to help others and be humble enough to accept help from others. The body of Christ is truly strengthened when all parts are working together toward the same goal… that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please guide and encourage Your people to help one another. Let us be patient with those who are not complete in their understanding. Encourage us to invest time and effort to help them. Also create in Your people a spirit of humility that is willing to learn what others have to teach. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.