Acts 18:22-28. Paul is retracing his steps as he begins the journey back to Jerusalem. He strengthens the believers in the cities He previously visited as he passes. Meanwhile, a believing Jew from Alexandria named Apollos comes to Ephesus and begins teaching of Christ eloquently and accurately there, even though he has only been baptized with the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila are still in Ephesus, and when they hear Apollos, they take him in and expound even further and more accurately on the way of God. After that, Apollos, with the encouragement of the other disciples, leaves for Achaia. The other disciples send a letter introducing him, and when he arrives, he greatly helps the believers there "for he powerfully confused the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus."

In my last entry, we saw Paul cutting his visit to Ephesus short so that he could begin his return to Jerusalem. The Ephesians had wanted Paul to stay longer - they were responding to his message and wanted to hear more. But Paul knew God's will for him and did not stay as long there as he had in other places. The Ephesians must have been a bit disappointed in this, but God always knows what He is doing and today we see Apollos come along. Apollos picks up where Paul left off and this enriches the Ephesians, but it also enriches Apollos himself, because he is taken aside by Priscilla and Aquila and taught even more. Presumably, he also has his baptism by the Spirit while with them, having only thus far been baptized with water. Apollos then sails off for Achaia, where he is a huge asset.

The lesson here for me is that no one is irreplaceable and we can't let our egos keep us in a place that God no longer wants us to be. God has something better in mind when He calls us away from something we are doing. Paul clearly had this figured out  -  he left Ephesus in God's hands knowing that he had to return to Jerusalem. By doing God's will, Paul left room for Apollos to teach the Ephesians and to grow in his own faith. There always has to be a bench for the Church to continue throughout time, and no one should be so proud that they think only they can handle any given situation.

Again, discernment is key. We must learn to listen to God's voice in everything, and follow where He leads. Our own egos, with help from the devil, often speak over God's voice. I know mine does, often. I have to learn to quiet my voice so I can hear His. Then I must do what He is telling me to do, even if it seems to me that I am letting down someone who needs me. I must trust that God has something better planned for both of us.