Seeing is not always believing. Old beliefs as well as old habits die hard. For centuries people believed Aristotle’s opinion that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth.
I am not an engineer but according to a report I read, in 1589 Galileo challenged Aristotle’s teaching. He invited learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Galileo went to the top of the tower and at exactly the same moment pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight.
Both landed at the same instant, but the professors still wouldn’t believe what they saw. They insisted Aristotle was right.
To move ahead in life and to grow—intellectually, emotionally and spiritually—it is important that we examine all our beliefs, test them, hold to the true and discard the false. Admittedly, this is much easier said than done, but done it must be if we are to keep learning and growing. Unless we are open to and willing to change, we get set in our ways and cease to grow.
We don’t read much about Apollos in the Bible but he was a contemporary of the Apostle Paul. He was a very gifted and educated man “with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” But he only knew about John the Baptist’s baptism. So when Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they explained the gospel message to him more completely.
The end result was that Apollos was willing to listen, was teachable, made the necessary changes in his beliefs and teaching. As a result he became a “great help” to the church.1
“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him [Apollos], they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”2
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please confront me with every issue in my life I need to be aware of, help me to be teachable, and give me the courage to make necessary changes in my life where needed. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
1. Acts 18:27 (NIV).
2. Acts 18:26 (NIV).
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