Growing together

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 18:24-19:10 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

One of my favourite sitcoms growing up was Father Ted*. Trying to meet the spiritual needs of their parishioners, three priests demonstrate they are far off the mark in offering spiritual companionship. Their funny antics bring great hilarity and entertainment.

We all need good, positive, and yet challenging spiritual companions. Priscilla and Aquila were blessed in spiritual companionship by Paul. They then nurture Apollos, as Paul had done for them. They guide him in areas where he could grow because he had little knowledge of what Jesus had done through death and resurrection. Then we hear of Paul, sharing with a group of twelve Ephesian disciples. Like Apollos, they sense their need to be close to God through the Messiah – but they had gone no further than that. Paul encourages them to go deeper, to trust in everything Jesus is and has done, and to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

In these two examples of faith, we see nurture and growth. Lent is a time of going deeper; of living in the fullness of what we know and delving into what we don’t know. God wills us to turn to Him this Lent and be transformed.

Apollos acknowledges the need to be guided in faith and doesn’t hold back. He’s like a sponge willing to soak up the richness of faith. The twelve, are transformed and empowered to share the Good News. Often, we need others to help us to discern where we might need to grow. Look around you for those spiritual companions through whom God can show you the way. Or, are there people to whom you could offer spiritual guidance, to bring about transformation?

By the power of the Holy Spirit, working in and through us all, we come to know the abundance of God’s boundless love. Paul, Priscilla and Aquila were channels of God’s love. We are channels of God’s love today, enabling those around us to experience that love in all its fullness. 

Let us pray: Loving Lord, enable us to journey in faith with our spiritual companions this Lent and Easter, as we grow together in love. Amen. 

*Some of the humour in Father Ted is now outdated.