Identity: Priscilla

 by: Carrie Hammye

After this Paul[a] left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
Acts 18:1-3 

I married a pastor in training when I was 19 years old. Ever since then, I have been identified as the "Pastor's Wife" or "Tim's wife," and now, "Chap's wife." After becoming a mom, I found myself identified as Abby's mom or Glori's mom. Sometimes I've been called, "teacher" or "miss." Rarely have I just been plain old Carrie.

In the passage above we meet Priscilla, as an accompaniment to her husband. Both of them were tentmakers by trade who met Paul after fleeing Rome at the command of Claudius. They allowed this fiery preacher to join their work and their lives.

Isn't it interesting that she worked at a trade? Most women of this day were kept sequestered from the public eye. But here she is, doing what must be done.

I see a woman like my own friends, in the offhand comment that Paul "stayed with them and worked" (Acts 1:3). What I hear in that small phrase is - got home from work and scrounged through the pantry to figure out how on earth she could make a decent meal with the one pound of meat she had ready for dinner. I interpret that to mean she was stripping the sheets off the beds and cramming them into the wash on her short break for a noon meal. Yep, she was just like you and me. She worked, she served, and then she taught.

Because, yes, she was more than a tentmaker and a homemaker, she was a Kingdom Builder. This tough, hardworking woman and her husband went on to host and instruct Apollos, another powerful preacher, and explained the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-28). Can you see her versatility? Her stamina? Her quiet hard work? 

This is you. You are that woman who works, cleans, hosts, and teaches. You are a strong and powerful woman. You are defined by who God says you are, and not by the voices that remind you of what you are NOT. I pray you will remember that you walk with Jesus, you are his own, and your identity is sunk deep in the anchor of his love for you.     

1. What have you done this week to build the Kingdom of God through your home?  

Celebrate it and thank God!

2. What have you done this week to build the Kingdom of God through your work?

Celebrate it and thank God!

3. What have you done to share your knowledge of God' work by teaching and mentoring others?

Celebrate it and thank God!