“Say ‘Hello’ to Priscilla!” - Encouragement Café - September 19, 2014
“Say ‘Hello’ to Priscilla!”
Café Menu for Friday, September 19, 2014
Today’s Special is: A Servant’s Heart!
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Dawn Neely
Main Ingredient:
Say ‘hello’ to Priscilla and Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me in serving Jesus. They once put their lives on the line for me. And I am not the only one grateful to them. All the Gentile gathering of believers also owe them plenty, to say nothing of the church that meets in their home.
Romans 16: 3-4 MSG
Entrée:
Can you imagine the Apostle Paul writing a letter to your church and asking them to tell you “Hello"?
I think that would be so awesome!
It is obvious in this passage of scripture that Paul knew Priscila and her husband Aquilla quite well. We learn that he stayed in their home, and the church that was established through the preaching of Paul resided in their home as well. Obviously Priscilla was a godly hostess, and Paul enjoyed his time in her home. But more than that, we see that Paul speaks of them in terms of life and death. They “put their lives on the line” for the gospel.
What a wonderful refreshment it must have been to him as a faithful minister, to have, for a while, the company of his friends. Paul was compassed about with infirmity, hardships, illness and strife, yet he found comfort and solace in the home of Priscilla.
Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, and from the people to whom he preached, he worked at his calling. He was a lively, affectionate preacher, fervent in spirit and full of the zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the most unreasonable.
The love of Christ and the friendship he experienced in the home of Priscilla provided the encouragement he needed, whether in finances, food or a safe place to lay his head. How valuable she was to the cause of Christ!
It appears that Priscilla was content in serving as a conduit for the gospel of Christ. Her role in spreading the gospel message was no less important than Paul’s. She did something so simple… she opened her home to Paul. He was welcome to visit, and rest, and share his heart. That is what I love about Priscilla. She used what she had and the gift of hospitality to minister to the minister. She was encouragement in motion.
What about you and me? Can’t we do the same?
God lists hospitality as one of the gifts of the Spirit. Being a sheltering tree to a saint of God in a world that is suspicious and doubtful is a gift that can be so simple to give.
Although Priscilla is only mentioned a couple times in the writings of Paul, I have no doubt she had great value in his life. Surely she was on his mind when he wrote,
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very ay Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1: 1-3 MSG.
Take Out:
Let us look for times, dear friends, where we can offer love expecting nothing in return.
Look for those opportunities to minister to your pastor, minister of music, youth and children’s minister or others that serve on the church staff.
Look for ways your home can be a haven of rest for others.
Be mindful that we are never more like Jesus than when we are serving others.
Dessert:
Dear Father God,
Lift up our eyes that we might see our world as you see it. Help us to respond as you would respond. Help our service to be prompted by duty and to realize this is the call of discipleship. Just as Priscilla moved the gospel forward, help us realize we can do the same. It is not our ability but our availability to be open to Your leading as the corporate body of Christ. Help us to be willing to use the gifts you have given each of us for the building up of Your kingdom. May we always have servant hearts.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
© 2014 by Dawn Neely. All rights reserved.
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