God Knows Where You Are and Why

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Acts 18:1-3


Paul was drawn to Aquila and Priscilla, not because they were believers, they weren’t, but because they were tentmakers. Paul’s ambition was to preach where people had never heard the Gospel (Romans 15:20). This was his first trip to Corinth.


Paul didn’t have the luxury of supporters sending checks from home. He worked his way through Asia Minor making tents. If Paul were alive today, maybe he would support his mission through telecommuting. Who knows? Maybe he would have supporters.


Paul met up with Aquila and Priscilla who were Jews newly kicked out of Italy because of an edict by Claudius which evicted all of the Jews in 52 AD. In Corinth Paul crossed their path and became their co-worker in tent making. Pricilla and Aquila’s house was used as a meeting place in Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:19). Then, somewhere along the way in 18 months of tent making with Paul, Priscilla and Aquila cross the line of faith and are introduced as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).


You wonder if Paul had days when he wished he could just preach the Gospel and not have to make tents. Yet, it was through tent making that Paul was introduced to Aquila and Priscilla. He preached the Gospel through his work. The result was that not only did his coworkers come to faith, they led many others to Christ as well.


While Paul was in Athens, he spoke these words, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (Acts 17:26). Considering his move from Athens to Corinth to meet Aquila and Priscilla, Paul knew exactly what he was talking about.


Where are you? Why has God put you where you are right now? Maybe you’re asking the same question. This is not an accident. God has a plan for you. Ask Him how He can use you in your current circumstance. Sometimes seeking God’s direction doesn’t have to do with choosing what’s next, but determining what He wants you do to here and now.