Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

13 July 2025

Reading From Acts 18

“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 Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.”—Acts 18:1-4

Rome and Corinth are over seven hundred miles apart. This means that Aquila and Priscilla would have not only been traumatized from persecution and having to abandon and flee their home, but they also would have been weary from the journey. Paul had the same vocation as they did and shared their Jewish heritage.

I’m sure it was refreshing for them to visit and work alongside Paul. The three of them doubtless had spiritually edifying conversations, encouraging and lifting each other up in the faith. Working alongside and visiting with one another is a vital part of our spiritual growth. All through the Scriptures we see that God wants to spend time with us and for us to do the same with our brothers and sisters. Through fellowship, we are given opportunity to share each other’s burdens, confess our sins to one another, pray for each other and find camaraderie. United by our shared Holy Spirit, fellowship can be an avenue of God’s grace and healing.

This fellowship strengthens the bonds of faith, hope and love in God’s eternal family. Their stronger faith and deepened understanding prepared Priscilla and Aquila to further disciple Apollos and for Paul to continue spreading the Good News and encouraging the believers.

“Lord God, I pray that I would value fellowship as You do. Order my priorities rightly. Open my eyes to opportunities in everyday life to spend quality time with You and with those around me. Help me grow. In Your Name I pray, Amen.”

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.—Hebrews 10:24-25