Today’s reading is from Acts 5:1-6:15.

Acts 6 provides a great deal of insight regarding how a congregation should work as it grows. But the one point that really hit me as helpful today was from Acts 6:2-4. 

The apostles didn’t want to give up working at prayer and the ministry of the word to wait tables. So, they advised the congregation to select seven men to do that task. There is a back side of this point, however. If the apostles would have to give up time in prayer and ministering the word to wait tables, that means those who waited tables wouldn’t be doing as much praying and ministering of the word. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. Everyone is to pray (I Thessalonians 5:17). We are all to minister the word. We even see Stephen doing so in the next chapter. The difference is the apostles’ lives were devoted to that work. the seven deacons not as much. 

What I get is very simple. Not everyone has to be a preacher to serve the Lord faithfully. Further, the preachers aren’t serving the Lord more faithfully, just because they preach. 

We all have our gifts. We all have our abilities. We all have our passions. We need to use them in serving the Lord. If that means preaching a sermon, teaching a Bible class, having a home study, that is great. If that means serving a widow, babysitting for a young couple, helping out a teenager, that is also great.

What you provide is great. Just make sure you use it in serving the Lord, whether that leads you to preach or not.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?