Ministry as a Couple: God use My Marriage!
My grandchildren love Super Heroes. I have a basket full of very muscular plastic characters with capes and shields. But there is a problem. Almost all the characters are male. I have Wonder Woman, and I just ordered Captain Marvel, but we need more female super heroes. So, I have a suggestion for the next female super hero – Priscilla!
I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila,
my fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus;
they risked their lives for me. I am grateful to them – not only I,
but all the Gentile churches as well (Romans 16:3-4).”
Priscilla is one of my favorite Bible characters. She is mentioned several times in the Book of Acts as a true helper to her husband Aquilla, who sounds like a man with six pack abs … or is that Aquaman 😊?
It is evident in Acts that Aquilla plays a role making tents, hosting Paul (Acts 18:2-3), risking her neck to help Paul (Romans 16:3-4), and shepherding the heart of a well-intentioned but untrained Apollos (Acts 18:26). She was well respected by the disciples as they greet her and her husband by name in letters to the churches (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19). Scholars think that she was involved in planting the church in Corinth and some offer that she is the author of Hebrews. God did not see Priscilla as her husband’s property or a silent partner, but rather as a co-laborer with her husband on the mission field. God used them together to affect His Kingdom and to grow the early church. They were the original “Super Hero Couple.” 😊
I want God to use my Marriage to advance the gospel, too!
God’s Plan for Your Marriage: God’s vision for Priscilla and Aquilla is the very same for you and your husband. God desires your marriage to be a beacon of hope to your community. It may be that you work a job and ministry on the side or that sharing the gospel is your full time gig. Be obedient and God will show you His plan for your marriage.
Culture tells us that marriage is to make us “happy,” but I can’t find that in God’s Word. I believe that God’s goal for your marriage is not only to sanctify you and your spouse but also to be used for His purposes to make disciples!. (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Power of Two: Jesus sent His disciples out two by two, and when God joins a husband and a wife in the covenant of marriage, He sends them out as well. You can consider the marriage ceremony as a commissioning service! WooHoo! (Mark 6:7) What a sendoff for the next group of Christian “Power couples.” (Matthew 18:20) Embrace His call and walk out the gospel with your spouse and see where God leads you!
Get Ready to be Used: Make time with your husband to pray over how God is using you and may want to use you in the future. Spend time together in the Word of God. Submit to one another’s authority as the Spirit leads. As Jody and I pray and study the Word together, we see how God uses each of us to bring a more complete understanding to His message of the moment and our understanding of God. (John 1:1) God is faithful! He is waiting for you to get busy and then volunteer to be used.
Have a Willing Attitude: I love the emoji of the woman raising her hand – it is my super hero persona. 🙋🏻♀️ I may not have any skill other than a love for God, but I have a willing heart and an out stretched hand that says, “Pick Us God, we want to be used by you today!” And time and time again, God does just that! No secret skills or special prayer to pray other than the words “I am willing, Father- use my marriage for your glory!”
I hope you are excited about the prospect of being used by God to further His Kingdom! God can use every heart that is willing to serve. Spend some time with your spouse praying for God to direct your steps! Then pick up your sword and shield and get busy, super heroes! (Ephesians 6:11)
Stay washed in the word my friends!
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things,
he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master,
prepared for every good work (2 timothy 2:21).”
