DAD;S RAMBLINGS -- BLOOMING WHERE WE'RE PLANTED

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – BLOOMING WHERE WE ARE PLANTED

"After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for by occupation they were tentmakers." (Acts 18:1-3)

Aquilla and Priscilla were refugees from Rome. They had no choice in the matter, because the Emperor Claudius made an edict that all Jews should leave Rome. How they ended up in Corinth is not detailed, but it is interesting that they should settle in one of the most corrupt cities in the Roman Empire. Corinth was an evil place where the worst of the worst lived. Being at the center of a trade route between east and west with sailors and merchants visiting regularly, one can only imagine what manner of vice existed in Corinth.

It was in this setting that Aquilla and Priscilla found themselves, whether by choice or by circumstances outside of their control. But in this wicked place, they found opportunities to minister. As tentmakers by trade, they probably came in contact with all kinds of people.

They were strong Christians, well-founded in the truth of God's Word and the Gospel. In fact, they even mentored a traveling evangelist who came through the city who did not have a full understanding of Christian theology. They instructed him more accurately the things of the Lord (vs. 25). Paul spent some time with them in their trade and they became good friends. In fact, Paul mentioned in one letter that they risked their lives to save his (Romans 16:3-4).

Our world is filled with refugees who have fled their homeland because of persecution. Some are Believers in Jesus, and have opportunities to share the Gospel in their new surroundings. That is how the early Church grew as Christians were persecuted and fled to other countries.

We, like Aquilla and Priscilla, are refugees, living in a foreign land. We are strangers, pilgrims and exiles in this world (Hebrews 11:13). We don't always have the choice of where we live, but we can trust that God has placed us there to do His ministry. It's not by accident that we live in a certain place. God has placed us here for His purposes. So we bloom where we're planted.

Love, Dad