No Expert

Wednesday January 28, 2015

My daughter´s preschool teacher asked me to speak to the children about being a writer. Visiting parents were being presented to the class as "experts" in their professions. I agreed to talk to the children, although being an "expert" unnerved me a bit. I didn´t feel like an expert. That week, I´d been frustrated by a lack of good ideas and wondered if I would ever write anything of value again! I thought, You´re no expert. You´re not qualified to speak.

When it comes to talking about our faith in Jesus, many of us don´t feel fit to open our mouths. Fortunately, theological expertise isn´t required to speak for God. Apollos was a man who "taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit...However, he knew only about John´s baptism" (Acts 18:25). As a Jewish man, Apollos had studied the Old Testament in detail and he knew the Scriptures well (v. 24), but he had incomplete information about the Saviour.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos' outspoken preaching, they "took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately" (v.26). With his expanded knowledge, Apollos fashioned formidable arguments and presented them in public debates. He wanted his fellow Jews to understand that Jesus was the Messiah.

Apollos may not have been an expert in every area of his faith, but he boldly proclaimed what he did know. He also was willing to continue learning what was true. Like Apollos, may we be teachable and bold as we "carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to [us]" (2 Timothy 1:14). Even if we´ve never been to Bible college or if we find parts of our faith difficult to explain, God will help us to be effective as we speak for Him. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Read
Acts 18:24-28
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Exodus 4:11-12
The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Question To Ponder 
On a scale of 1 - 10, how willing are you to invest time in learning more about your faith?
What areas of God´s Word might you need to investigate more thoroughly?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue