April 23. Acts 18. Reese Holland

A Divine Intersection

Have you ever felt lost or confused in regards to the path your life has taken?  Life takes many twists and turns that are unexpected and can sometimes leave us questioning “Why this, God?” 

This is no doubt how Paul was tempted to feel in Acts 18. Paul was without his missionary companions in a new, wealthy, and unfamiliar city (v. 1, v. 5).  He undoubtedly was frustrated that he could not dedicate himself fully to his missionary work, as he had to take up tent making to sustain himself (V. 3).  On top of this, the Jews in the synagogue rejected his message, and him (v. 6).  And all of this after he was chased out of Macedonia, where God had told him so clearly in Acts 16:9-10 that the people needed him!  No wonder God sought to shore him up by telling him “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:9-10).  Paul listened and God proved himself faithful once again. We see that in verse 8 many of the Corinthians were baptized into Christ, and in verses 12-17, Paul was defended from the Jews by an apathetic proconsul.  Moreover, Paul met Pricilla and Aquila here, who would become near and dear to his heart and massive helpers in the Gospel (he mentions them in Romans 16:3 and 2 Timothy 4:19).  His friendship with this couple would then go on to alter the trajectory of Apollos’ life, who would come to massively influence the church in Corinth. Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

When we are in an unfamiliar place, dealing with unexpected circumstances, or suffering unjustly it is easy to lose perspective on God’s greater plan for our lives and the lives of those around us. The Scriptures give a fantastic example in Paul.  Paul faithfully listened to God’s call and trusted that his plan was far greater than anything that he could imagine.  It is because of Paul’s faith that we can see this beautiful and divine intersection in Corinth.   When adversity comes your way, how do you react?  When you feel like you cannot see the finish line do you stop running the race?  Will you let your trust in God be snuffed out by the circumstances that surround you?  Or will you endure, trusting that God’s plan is greater than your understanding?

In the above mentioned quote from 1 Corinthisns 3:6-7, Paul looks back on his time in Corinth and concludes that it is “only God who gives the growth”.  Take comfort in the fact that God is the one steering the ship and that he will bring growth (even if it is not how you may expect)!