After the apostle Paul left the city of Athens, his next stop was the city of Corinth. Paul wrote two letters to the church at Corinth. We read that he stayed there for a year and a half teaching and preaching the Word of God.

It was in Corinth that he tells us that he met a couple by the names of Aquila and Priscilla. They had come to the saving faith in Christ in the city of Rome, and came to Corinth because Claudius had deported all Jews from Rome. Because they, like Paul, were tent makers by trade, they not only worked with Paul, but they also took Paul into their home and family. Scripture indicates that this hardworking, hospitable couple was sold out for Jesus Christ. They were tremendous helpers to Paul in the ministry of the gospel.

In Romans 16:3,4, Paul writes, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles”. In addition to making tents as a means of income by trade, this husband and wife also put their life on the line to assist Paul in his ministry of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 16:19 Paul writes, “Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house”. They were a couple that had an “open heart, open door” policy who knew the importance of opening their home for fellowship with other saints.

Years later, Paul writes from “death row” in 2 Timothy 4:19, “Salute Priscilla and Aquila”. The fact that Paul mentions them while he was on “death row” near end of his life reveals Paul never forgot the hospitality, help and love that they showed him over the years. They were not fair weather saints who bailed out when the going gets tough.

Its couples like this in the local church that make the ministry a pure joy and delight. Its couples who have an open door of hospitality and are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of others in the body of Christ that will receive those crowns of reward at the Bema Seat of Christ.

I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for the multitude of sold out couples who have served the Lord and have been a great help to me and others in ministry here at Koinonia during the past four decades. Thank you for putting Jesus first in your lives and for choosing to live for Him and His glory. Your labors in the Lord and neither in vain, nor are they unnoticed not only to me and others, but to the One who loved us and died for us. Selah