Love-Works of a Couple

As we begin today, be ever mindful that we, as servant-followers of Christ, His Church, whether collectively or individually, are the bride of Christ. It is by faith then, accepting this truth, we too can each become a LEAF, in or to a brother or sister in need of enlightenment.

Today, the significance of LEAF is twofold as it contains a two-fold banner, if you like. Remember, all banners are unto the Lord, publishing all about Him to others. The two-fold banner of LEAF, publishes the following.

1. Leaf is a small part of a tree, yet it tells exactly the name of the tree and what the tree is about. For example, an olive leaf tells that there is an olive tree, for the name olive leaf bears the name of the tree, olive tree. Additionally, because the olive leaf informs us that it has come from the olive tree, we know that such a tree bears the fruit of olives. Like Aquila and Priscilla, we too are but a small part of the whole Body of Christ, the Church, yet each of us tells, not of ourselves but of the whole. Additionally, all who see us will look for the fruit of Christ.

2. Leaf is an acronym which brings us to - Listening, Entertaining, Apprising, Finishing – the banner under which we will adequately and satisfactorily be led and fed, into even more truth about ourselves. We are called to build each other up in every way needed, especially when we see the inadequacies in each other. We are to help to enlighten each other, to be more adequate publishers of Jesus, the Way of God.

Here is the text, repeated for easy access. 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. Acts 18: 26

Listening - Note carefully that the couple, the servant-followers of Jesus, is listening for the first time to this enthusiastic and bold-speaking convert, proclaiming and teaching facts about Jesus Christ. He is correct in his facts, but he is lacking and limited in what he is offering his hearers. Aquila and Priscilla are not listening to people’s reports about this servant, nor are they basing their judgments on what they have read. Theirs is all first-hand, as they are both hearing this zealous speaker whose source is most limited. What is their love-work? It is to so listen, as to be instantly aware of truth and do something to help.

Entertaining. After listening to Apollos speak and noting his inadequacy pertaining to the Way, they invite the speaker to their home. They have decided to entertain Apollos, new to them, but none the less, a fellow brother in Christ. This may seem a bit of an unnecessary thought to some, but our Lord deliberately and pointedly brought it to me, and I have done the same to you. I was told to note carefully that the couple did not keep the new and visiting preacher at the back of the synagogue to speak to him about his message, nor did they accost him in the synagogue yard, to tell him any such thing. Their love-work entertained Apollos in the comfort and ease of their welcoming home. Face it, their mind was to apprise the preacher of his inadequacy and help him, but this came in the full hospitality of home.

Tomorrow, we follow through with the final two letters of the Acronym, LEAF.