Great Plains Daily Devotional for 5/7/2020

Acts 6:1-7 

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

With grace flowing, we might remember how the Gospel is growing our church, perhaps, in spite of our complaining…just as in the church described in our passage. With grace, we would realize that our serving at tables was a way of serving the Word, of praying with our hands. With grace at the table, we see God’s work of possibility, even in difficult times. In the end on that day in the ancient church, grace did its grace-full work, and seven men of faith were chosen for the holy work of service to the widows. And the disciples offered a blessing. May we receive and share the grace with abundance as we live in these in-between times of possibility in our lives and our congregations.

Prayer for Reflection

Acts 2 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35