“After all, what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow. It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering, and each will duly be paid according to his share in the work. We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.”
— I Corinthians 3: 5 – 9
Pondering this passage tonight as a friend shared it with a group to reflect on it and share our thoughts. This is the sentence that most called to me:
“Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord.”
The translation I read earlier today phrased this differently but this phrasing really speaks to me. I’m not sure I can articulate it, but I really feel a tug at my heart at the idea that God has assigned each of us– assigned *me* — a way to bring the faith to others.
Today my way was reading this passage slowly with my children and discussing it. During our daily lessons we always read the day’s reading and I try to do a little reflecting– we’re getting better at that as we go, though some day’s readings seem more conducive than others. Or maybe some days are just more “on” than others. The readings from Corinthians have been challenging us but we’ve persevered and had some really amazing conversations.
I really feel God’s presence when I read the day’s readings and do Lectio with my children. Right now, today, they are my little garden and I have the privilege of getting to tend that patch. What God has planned for me when this season of life is over, I don’t know. But I can rest assured that right now I’m doing what he wants and he’ll have a new assignment for me when I’m ready for it.
