DEVOTIONAL: Be beneficial to someone
By Michael Madaris,
Pastor, Kelleytown Baptist Church
I was reading my Bible today.
It’s something I do or attempt to do every day. It’s something I’ve tried to do every day since 1999.
This practice has allowed me the privilege of reading through the entire Bible 20 times to this point in my life. It’s one of the greatest investments I’ve ever made in me in my life.
I can genuinely say that my life has never been the same, and what the Bible has done for me, it will also do for you, if you will take a few minutes each day and allow it.
Part of what I read today was from Acts 18:24-28 and I want to share with you how the Holy Spirit encouraged me from the Word of God.
In these verses we are introduced to a man named Apollos. He was an extraordinary man with great skills in communication. He was also a man who loved the Lord. This love for the Lord moved him to share the good news of Jesus with people along the way.
He didn’t have it all together; he didn’t have it all right when we are introduced to him, but he loved the Lord and he shared the message of Jesus with boldness and courage.
As Apollos was traveling, he was blessed to meet a husband and wife team who also loved Jesus and were living on mission for Jesus. There is an instant connection between Aquilla and Priscilla and Apollos.
Aquilla and Priscilla begin to help Apollos in the areas where he lacks understanding about the Scriptures and about Jesus. Apollos embraces the help and is strengthened as a result.
After a period of time, Apollos has a desire to travel on from where he is to another place called Achaia (v. 27), and the believers in Ephesus write a letter of recommendation to the Christians in Achaia to welcome Apollos into their fellowship and listen to him as he teaches. (And this is the point where I was really encouraged.)
Verse 27b says, “When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed.”
I began to think about this; I’m still thinking about it. This is what I’m thinking. This is what I’m asking myself. How great a benefit am I to others? When I show up, what is benefited, who is benefited?
The reality is that my presence should be of great benefit to others, not because of me, but because of the Jesus in me. People should be better off after a chance meeting, a conversation, a prayer, a text, an e-mail, a visit.
I should be, you should be, we should be in such a position and condition because of our relationship with King Jesus that we benefit people at any and every opportunity.
Be beneficial to someone today. God bless you all.
