A beautiful day, Father, and all from Your mighty hand! May I ever be grateful for the wonderful gifts set before me, that I can see, smell, taste, and experience with all that I am!
Acts 18:24-28 (<<click here to read the passage)
A story running through social media recently has to do with an elderly woman who decided to further her education even though she was in her 90s. In trying to find it, I found myself surprised at the results! I couldn’t find her particular story, but I did find several others!
One was about a gentleman by the name of Bob Dwyer who lived in the Chicago area. He had planned on furthering his education at a young age but signing up for the army, getting married, having a successful career — got in the way…time passed on and an opportunity never really was right for him to go back [to school].
His job in the fastener business took him around the world but after retiring at 80, he missed more intense human interaction, especially after losing his wife, Peggy, in 2010.
So, he decided to pursue an interdisciplinary program at Northeastern Illinois University – a 40-hour course over a two-year period. He graduated in the spring of 2019 with his nine kids and most of his 22 grandchildren there to cheer him on!
When interviewed by a local television station Dwyer said, “It’s never going to be too late, and I think the reward is worth it.” (For the entire story visit this link to WPVI ABC6, Chicago)
In these verses, we are introduced to a Jewish gentleman by the name of Apollos. He is described as being eloquent and cultured and was spiritually impassioned, speaking boldly and fearlessly in the synagogue… and teaching accurately the things about Jesus… The thing is his knowledge of Jesus only went up to the baptism of John! vs24, 25
I have no idea how old Apollos was, but to be doing what he was doing, where he was doing it, communicated the fact that he was determined to accomplish what he thought to be a very important task! (He hailed from Alexandria, Egypt, and according to one source that was a trip of 475 miles by sea to get to Ephesus…a four-and-a-half-day trip!
He was very well educated (many think he may have authored the Biblical book of Hebrews). You don’t get to that point in your life without knowing a fair amount about a fair number of things. But the thing is, when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ]. v26b
We hear nothing of his balking at any of this! Instead despite his age and life experience, he embraced the furthering of his education and went to impact innumerable lives by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Messiah!
How many get stuck where they are in their notions of spiritual things? All of us should be open to what God has to teach us. Yes, we much do so with care, for there are many false teachings out there as well. But many dig their heels in and won’t give expanding their spiritual understanding an opportunity because it’s “new”!
Lord Jesus, help us to open our minds to what You would have us learn, even if it may be foreign to our own concepts. If it lines up with other things we know of concerning You and especially if it is in accord with Your word, may we be receptive. Amen.
June 22nd, 2022, Wed, 9:30 pm
