Five Minute Friday: Attempt

Photo by AJ Yorio on Unsplash

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "attempt."

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

                                                                     -Acts 16:6-8 (ESV)


I love this story. I have come back to it many times, especially when a BIG decision is looming in my life. Not so much for the smaller ones-it’s usually only the big decisions that I decide to refer to this story.

Maybe that should be different? Hmmmm….

This morning, as I was perusing Scripture trying to select a passage to go with the word prompt “attempt,” I came across this story again. This time, I decided to get my map out and look at it through geographical eyes.

Phyrigia and Galatia and Mysia all sort of border around the region of Bithynia. They form sort of like a bowl underneath. Paul was so very close. Yet, the Holy Spirit didn’t want him to go there…yet.

He decided to yield to what the Spirit said, and they went down to Troas. If you read the rest of the story, you will see that He had a vision during the night of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come help him. So, they went. And a new church was born. (Read Acts 16 for all the details.) We literally have another letter in our Bibles because of this incident.

A couple of things I want to point out. First, Paul was attempting to do something. He was in motion. He had gone many places in the area, with the leading of the Holy Spirit I am sure. Many may have been because it seemed good. That phrase is also used in the Scripture.

But when he got to Bythnia it was a big no. This leads me to my next point. Did the Holy Spirit say no because He didn’t want Paul to go to Bythnia, or was it because He had something else for him to do? It may not have been that danger awaited him in Bithynia (because Paul often encountered danger, beatings, etc.), but it was because the timing was there for the people that were awaiting him in Philippi.

I also searched the word Bithynia when I was looking words up today, and that region is also found in 1 Peter 1 in Peter’s greeting to the Believers of specific regions.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosenaccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”-1 Peter 1:1-2 (BSB)

Bithynia was still included. They didn't get left behind or left out.

I think the biggest takeaway (for me anyway), is to always attempt something. Keep moving. You can trust the Lord to direct your steps, and care for those that you thought you might be going to, but it turns out you weren’t. There are more people for you to encounter ahead.

P.S. Read the Bible with a map. (I love geography.)


Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus,

Beth

Women of Romans 16

Photo courtesy of Kevin Carden at Lighstock

I have spent a lot of time on the women in the Gospels and a little on some in the Old Testament. I thought I would move forward a little and start talking about the women in Acts and the Epistles. I already have a teeny bit of research about the women listed in Romans 16. I am going to share some of that with you. The first two mentioned are the ones we know the most about.

The epistle to the Romans was written to all Believers in Rome, though it appears according to the list in Romans 16 that there were many house churches that existed there. There are ten women listed in the passage of Scripture in Romans 16. They are:

1. Phoebe

2. Prisca

3. Mary

4. Junia

5. Tryphena

6. Tryphosa

7. Persis

8.. Rufus’ mother

9. Julia

10. Nereus’ sister

The first woman mentioned was Phoebe. It is believed that she was the one who actually carried the letter of Romans to the Church at Rome. I have written about her in more detail in a post in relation to 1 Timothy 3. Click here to read that post.

The second woman mentioned was Prisca or Priscilla. She was the wife of Aquila, and they are mentioned throughout the New Testament. Luke mentions them in Acts, and Paul mentions them in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy. Click here to read a little more about Priscilla.

There are 8 more I have yet to explore. When Paul mentions some of them, he says they "laboured much for us" or "laboured much in the Lord." What does in mean to "labour in the Lord?" Where else is that phrase found in the New Testament? They must have held some significance to be among those mentioned in this passage of Scripture.
More to come...

Daily Devotion: Washing of the Water

Photo by David Ballew on Unsplash

I have been gardening a little bit. This is the first time I have had a garden, probably since childhood. It is hot here, so you have to water the garden a lot, or the plants will wither and wilt.

I can't help but make all kinds of spiritual analogies while I am gardening. Jesus talked about seed and ground in Mark 4. There are all kinds of farmer/gardening analogies in the word of God.

So, this morning I am thinking about the ground and the plants being dry. I think so many people are dry right now. They are withering. How do you start to grow again? How do you become refreshed?

By the water of the Word.

In Ephesians 5:26, Paul calls the Word of God, water.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, "-Ephesians 5:25-26

You can't spend time feeding on the news and social media all day long, and not feel drained. Spend some time with God in His Word. Spend some time with other Believers. Go to Bible study. Listen to the Word of God preached.

You need it to stay refreshed and strong.

Five Minute Friday: Enable

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "enable"

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.-Philippians 1:12-18 (Berean Study Bible)


Begin 5 minutes.


There are so many different words for enable in the Scriptures, Old & New Testament. Usually when I am participating in Five Minute Friday, I usually look up the word to see if I can write about a passage that includes this word. But this time, I thought of the story in the passage of Scripture above. I looked up the word enable too, just to get a proper definition, but there were so many in the Hebrew and the Greek.

My thought on enable was “to make possible.” When I looked up the definition in Merriiam Webster’s online dictionary, that was the first definition listed. And I think that is why I thought about the story above.

In this passage of Scripture, Paul is writing to the church in Philippi. If you remember, that is where he met Lydia, the first European convert to Christianity. She might have been part of the leadership in that church.

In verses 12-18 of Philippians 1, Paul is talking about all the things that have happened to him, has made possible, or enabled the Gospel to go further. I didn’t check before I wrote this post, but based on what he says, I imagine he is writing this from Rome, and is under guard, thus the chains.

His arrest, the chains, have enabled the Gospel. It has made the palace guard and all the rest more aware of Jesus.

His chains have enabled the rest of the Body of the Believers there. It has given them boldness to “speak the word without fear.”

Christ is preached. The preaching of the Gospel was enabled because of the circumstances of Paul.


End 5 minutes.

A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman by Holly Beers

I recently read the book, A Week in the Life of Greco-Roman Woman by Holly Beers,  It is about the life of a woman in Ephesus when the church was just starting there.

Women's lives were so hard!! They were considered property and treated anyway their spouses wished.

The parts of the book I loved was when the woman started learning about Jesus. That was really cool. The author also included several incidents of healing, which was amazing!

I think we forget about what it is like for people who don't know anything nor have ever heard about Jesus, and then all of a sudden start learning. It was very refreshing to see what that would be like through the eyes of that woman.

I think it would be refreshing to all of us to go back to the early days and remember the love of God we felt and how clean and pure everything seemed when we first came to the Lord.

There were also a few Bible figures in the book including Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. It was interesting to see how the author interpreted their personalities.

Another interesting aspect of the book is that pictures and factual information from that time period in Ephesus were included as part of the book. That was a little awkward reading it at first, because it is Biblical fiction, a story that is fiction, but based on events in the Bible. But it helped to understand the time period more, and the book of Ephesians more as well.

I think when you understand what was going on, it helps you to read the Bible with fresh eyes. This is only one of the books in "A Week in the Life of" series, and I can't wait to read more!

Five Minute Friday: Risk

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "risk."

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.-Romans 16:3-4

I love Romans 16. I have this thing about learning about people. 

In the 16th chapter of the letter to Romans, Paul lists many people’s names which were part of the early church in Rome. In verses 3 & 4 of that chapter, a couple named Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned.

The first time the couple is mentioned in the Scriptures is in Acts 18. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, tells that they were expelled from Rome because of an edict set forth by Claudius, the emperor during that time, forcing all Jews to leave.
We don’t know why this event happened exactly. I imagine if we explored history, we might get a clearer picture.

Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple. Aquila was a Jew, we are told, but we aren’t given a clear explanation about Priscilla’s nationality.

My own personal opinion is that she was most likely a Roman. Her name is a Latin name, meaning “ancient.” I researched a little and Latin and Greek were the official languages of the Roman empire, but Latin was the original language. So, it stands to reason, having a Latin name, she was most likely a Roman.

They are mentioned throughout the epistles by Paul, in Romans 16 and then again in 1 Corinthians and 2 Timothy in Paul’s salutations at the end of the letters.

We aren’t exactly told what the risk involved, but we know that living in any of the above cities at the time wasn’t easy and it wasn’t safe.

It has been a while since I charted their route, but it appears, based on the dates of which the epistles were written, and the mention of their names in scripture, that Priscilla and Aquila's journey originated in Rome, then on to Corinth.  Then they went to Ephesus, back to Rome, and then back to Ephesus.

Five Minute Friday: Experience

Today I am participating in Five Minute Friday, where a group of writers get together and free write about a one word prompt for 5 minutes. Today's word is "experience."

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

                                           -Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

The word experience in the above verse is usually translated as “know” in most Bible translations. It is the Greek word “ginosko” and has different meanings.

One of the meanings is “to know, especially through personal experience” according to Helps Word Studies.

Another place this word is found is in Luke 1:34 when Mary says to the angel, 

 'How will this be since I do not know a man?”

So, this knowing, this experience is not just a head knowledge thing. It is a tangible experience. You can feel it.

The scripture above is part of prayer that Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus. It is my prayer for myself and for all The Church today.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Nothing You Give to God is Ever Wasted

Nothing you ever give to God is wasted.

There was a lady whom God used greatly in my life when I first came back to the Lord in my early twenties. I would show up late to this little Baptist church in the foothills by myself for Sunday morning service and sit in the back. I don't know how many times I went to the altar during that time. (Only once was necessary.) I just felt so clean each time I went.

But there was a lady who sat on the opposite side of the church from me. I wonder how long it took her before she approached me. But she noticed me, by God's direction I am sure. And she became my friend. Even though she lived in the same town as me, she would mail me notes to encourage me. She would answer questions I had, and just loved on me. She gave me some Christian music one time. I don't even recall everything she did-I am sure there was more.

She was one of a list of people God used to keep me connected to Him. I was so fragile, I could still have gone either way at the time. And I actually did a few times. I didn't know who I was in Jesus. I was a new creation, but didn't know what that meant completely. I was in relationship with Him, but didn't understand how much He loved me yet. I am still growing in that.

That lady was pivotal in my life. She was so very important. Now, I endeavor to be that lady to others. And you can too. Never doubt the significance of the small seed you are planting in someone's life. You never know what they will become. But you can be sure of this, God is faithful to watch over that seed, and water it, and love it, so it grows into all that He meant it to be.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept it growing."-1 Corinthians 3:6 (Berean Literal Bible)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,"-Matthew 28:19 (Berean Study Bible)

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

"Bah," Paul said, waving a hand. "Physicians. They are only men, after all. What is to them an unsolvable case is to God a simple matter.  We shall ask Jesus to touch your father."  He gave me a lopsided smile full of mischief. I wanted to grin back, like a carefree child, as if I were not carrying a millstone around my neck."

-Ariadne, Thief of Corinth

"First-century Corinth is a city teeming with commerce and charm. It’s also filled with danger and corruption—the perfect setting for Ariadne’s greatest adventure.

After years spent living with her mother and oppressive grandfather in Athens, Ariadne runs away to her father’s home in Corinth, only to discover the perilous secret that destroyed his marriage: though a Greek of high birth, Galenos is the infamous thief who has been robbing the city’s corrupt of their ill-gotten gains.

Desperate to keep him safe, Ariadne risks her good name, her freedom, and the love of the man she adores to become her father’s apprentice. As her unusual athletic ability leads her into dangerous exploits, Ariadne discovers that she secretly revels in playing with fire. But when the wrong person discovers their secret, Ariadne and her father find their future—and very lives—hanging in the balance.

When they befriend a Jewish rabbi named Paul, they realize that his radical message challenges everything they’ve fought to build, yet offers something neither dared hope for.

Be transported back in time by this gripping tale of adventure, bravery, and redemption, and discover why Debbie Macomber says, “No one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar."

-Book Description, Tyndale House Publishers

I really enjoy Biblical fiction, and it is safe to say that it is my favorite genre.  In the story, Thief of Corinth, Tessa Afshar's latest Biblical fiction novel, she has created a plausible story using a fictional character, Ariadne, and places her in a Biblical setting surrounded by other people that are found in the Bible. She uses descriptive detail about the time period, and the setting of Corinth and Athens to draw you into the story.  Lovers of this genre and stories of the Bible will enjoy the way the author weaves well known, and not so well known persons of the Bible into the story, and gives them a voice. I won't share their names because it will be fun to be surprised!

I enjoyed Thief of Corinth.  The first half of the book was the back story of Ariadne and her family, created from the author's own imagination. We do see one person from her family, during the back story, that is mentioned in the Bible, Dionysius, found in Acts 17.

But some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.-Acts 17:34

My favorite parts in Thief of Corinth were when we got to people actually found in the Bible, and she started connecting the dots in Corinth. Dionysius was the one Biblical figure that existed from beginning of the story,  but then she gets to Paul and we see many more people found in Acts 17 & 18.

One thing I need to mention is that because of the setting in Corinth and Athens, there are some references to different kinds of sexual immorality, because it was prevalent in that city, during that time. The majority of it is discreet with the exception of a rape at the beginning of the book.  It was not extremely explicit, and we do not go through the rape itself, but the aftermath contains some descriptive wording about the condition of the woman after.  I thought it was necessary to mention that, well, because it is there, and it might bother some people.  I myself did not enjoy reading that part. I would have liked to have seen her redeem the situation and the girl involved, to bring the healing God has for people who have had their innocence disturbed.

Overall this was an intriguing novel, that I feel like readers of Biblical fiction will appreciate. Thief of Corinth is a story of redemption, complete with the overwhelming love of God and is picturesque of what I believe will be many stories we hear when Jesus returns. Many blessings to you as you live out your own story of redemption,

Beth

Disclosure Statement:  I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for my review.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Read Chapter 1 of Thief of Corinth

To learn more about the author, visit her at tessaafshar.com.

To hear Tessa's testimony watch this 700 Club interview. 

Author interview about Thief of Corinth

Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar

Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.  And we were staying in that city for some days.  And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God.  The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us,  saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay."  So she persuaded us. Acts 16:11-15 (NKJV)

Purple.  The foundation of an influential trade in a Roman world dominated by men.  One woman rises up to take the reins of success in an incredible journey of courage, grit, and friendship. And along the way, she changes the world.

But before she was Lydia, the seller of purple, she was simply a merchant's daughter who loved three things: her father, her ancestral home, and making dye.  Then unbearable betrayal robs her of nearly everything.

With only her father's secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her own business on her own.  Determination and serendipitous acquaintances--along with her father's precious dye--help her become one of the city's preeminent merchants.  But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert.  Still, Lydia can't outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide. Still, Lydia can't outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life.

-Book Description, Tyndale House Publishers

I love the account of Lydia found in Acts 16.  I have read it many times.  So when I found out that Tessa Afshar was writing a story about her, I was so excited! 

She did such an excellent job of weaving all the Biblical details together.  Her fictional portions were very plausible, including how Lydia came from Thyatira to Philippi.  Her characterization of Paul was very believable as well. 

I have read the novel two times now, and I believe I enjoyed it more my second time around.  The first time I was so eager to get through the story, that  I don't think I enjoyed all the details.  This time I picked up on so many things I missed the first time. 

Tessa presents the Gospel in a very simple, loving way, the way I think that God meant it to be presented to people.  It was so inviting.  You travel along with Lydia throughout her story, and when her heart opens to the good news Paul shares, I could feel my heart opening anew.  You will be blessed, encouraged, and refreshed as you read Bread of Angels, the story of Lydia, seller of purple.

To learn more about the author, you can visit her at tessaafshar.com.

To read a sample of the book, visit amazon.com or christianbook.com.

Women in the Early Church: Phoebe and 1 Timothy 3

Now I introduce and commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess (servant) of the church at Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord [with love and hospitality], as God’s people ought to receive one another. And that you may help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many, including myself.-Romans 16:1-2 AMP

Phoebe is the first woman listed in Romans 16, but she gets only two verses of this chapter of Romans. We can tell a lot from these verses though.

Her name means “bright" or "radiant." She is a Believer, because Paul refers to her as “our sister.” He also calls her a deaconess, a servant of the Church in Cenchrea. Cenchrea was a port in Corinth.

The word deacon in Romans 16:1 is translated many different ways, depending upon which translation you read. It is translated deacon, deaconess, leader, and servant. They all come from the same Greek word “diakonos.” According to Strong’s Concordance, this word can mean servant, minister, waiter, administrator.

In 1 Timothy 3, Paul details the qualifications for a deacon in the Church.  At first glance, it looks like these qualifications are just referring to men. If they were just referring to men, why would Paul refer to Phoebe as a deacon? Upon looking at that passage a little closer, it seems like there may be an admonition to women as well in verse 11.

The women in like manner chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things. -1 Timothy 3:11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Some translators translated the word women in 1 Timothy 3:11 as wives. This has led most people to believe that the verse was referring to the wives of the deacons. If you look in some Bibles, you will notice the word "their" often in italics before wives, which means the translators added it for clarification. Many translators used the word women, but one translator, Weymouth, chose the word “deaconesses.” It reads like this: 

Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.

At the beginning of Romans 16, in verse 1, Paul commends Phoebe to the Church there at Rome. Naturally thinking, I thought that word meant "to send."  But I looked it up in the Greek just to be sure, and it doesn’t mean send. It means “stands with” as in the sense of supporting someone. Wow. That just changed the entire passage for me. Basically Paul was saying, I endorse her, so do whatever she asks you to do, and help her in whatever way she needs help.

In verse 2, he asks the Church to welcome her in a manner worthy of the Lord, and then to help her in whatever she needs help with, because she has been helper of many there, as well as a helper of Paul.  The word helper in the Greek word "prostastis."  Strong's concordance defines that word as " a female guardian, protector, patroness."  Thayer's Greek Lexicon also agrees with Strong's, but also adds in the definition " a woman set over others."

So, we can ascertain by these two verses that Paul endorses her, and that she is coming to the Church in Rome with purpose. He calls her a deaconess, which is a servant, as all people are called to be in the Body of Christ. But, what was she coming to do?

We don’t really know, but because of the tumultuous times in Rome, it was probably necessary for Paul to let them know who exactly she was. It was dangerous for Christians in Rome. Nero was emperor in Rome when this letter was written. He would eventually set fire to Rome, and then blamed the Christians for it. It could be dangerous for her traveling into Rome, and well as the Christians receiving her, who might not possibly know if someone was a Believer or not.

It is often presumed that she carried the epistle to the Romans, to the Church at Rome. The scriptures do not state that she was the carrier, but it would have made sense if she was going there anyway. Again, it was a dangerous time. If she was the carrier, what an awesome responsibility for her. Paul must have trusted her very much. The epistle to the Romans is a very important book of the Bible for Believers today. It was Paul's longest letter.  It is where we learn how salvation comes about in Romans 10. We learn about justification by faith and how we have peace with God in Romans 5. Such an important letter!!

We can learn many things about Phoebe, from just these two short verses in the Bible. She was brave. She was commended by Paul. But most importantly, she loved the Church, and went to great lengths to serve Her wherever she may be.


Many blessings to you as you continue to walk with the Lord in whatever places you serve,




Beth

When You Are Set Free, Others Will Be Too!!

Last night I was reading about Paul and Silas in Acts 16.  There are lots of good things in this passage, but I want to focus on just one for now. It says,

 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.-Acts 16:25-26

The earthquake was not just some random event that took place. It was a result of Paul and Silas praying and praising God. When they did that, something happened. God moved. And they were freed from what bound them. They were literally freed from the prison they were in. And it was quite dramatic. 

The scripture says that the "foundations of the prison were shaken...And everyone's bands came loose." Whoa! Not only were Paul and Silas set free, but also  all those in the prison that were there to witness it,  eventually including the jailer, who was was the one who puy them in the chains to begin with. 

So, in the midst of a troublesome situation, keep praying and praising God. Don't listen to the enemy tell you nothing is happening! God is as close as your next breath and He hears you! You will be set free, along with others around you! When you are released from your prison, it will set others free too!

Important Parts of the Body of Christ

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees;" for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.- 1 Samuel 16:7

The above scripture comes from the story in the Bible where Samuel was choosing the next King of Israel from among Jesse's sons. Jesse had sons that were warriors, and by all outward appearances, would have made a better king than David. David was a shepherd.

Sometimes people make this same mistake. They look at people's status or their jobs, and think that is so great, and they make the perfect servants for the Kingdom. But with God, this is not so.

In the Gospels, Jesus chose people who looked like unlikely candidates. He chose fishermen and tax collectors to be his servants. He didn't pick them because of their status in life. The Bible doesn't really say why He chose them in particular, but if we go by the above scripture in Samuel, it was because He saw something you and I cannot see.

In the book of Acts, there is a story about a disciple named Ananias. You can find it in Acts 9. In that story, Jesus calls to him in a vision and tells him to go and find a man named Saul and restore his sight. The account doesn't give us any information, no titles, no big labels, just he was a "disciple." Ananias, a "disciple" hears specific instructions from the Lord, and obeys Him. The result is Saul of Tarsus, later to be known Paul, writes 2/3 of the New Testament that we have today.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we find information about the Body of Christ. Verses 23-25 read

And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

There are no accolades in the Body of Christ, just parts.

So, that mechanic who works down the street, and leads 10 people a month to the Lord, he is important. That retail worker who prays for people to receive healing, she is important. Not everything that is big and bright and sparkles is best. What counts is: are we doing what God has for us to do? Can we hear from Him? Are we listening to Him?

He has something for every believer to do.