So The Word Of God Spread

SO THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD

a prayer to open

Holy Spirit, come. Center my heart.

Fill my mind. Guide my steps.

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Conflict and confusion within the church can prevent the effective presentation of the gospel and inhibit the church’s ability to demonstrate the love and union it professes. As we see in this passage, one of the ways to begin to resolve conflict and clear up confusion is to encourage and enable every believer to use his or her spiritual gifts to serve. This is precisely what the apostles did in asking the community of believers to identify seven people gifted in caring for the widows among them and allow the apostles to do what God had called and gifted them to do. Because the apostles served in their areas of gifting, “the word of God spread” (verse 7, NIV).

• Read this passage again. What word or phrase stands out to you? Then sit quietly, reminding yourself that you are in God’s loving presence, and ask him to show you how that word or phrase connects to your life.
• Reflect on a season in your life (maybe it’s now) in which you served in a way that was outside your gifts. How did that feel? How fruitful or fulfilling was your time serving in this area? (For a list of spiritual gifts, take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Romans 12:4-8.) Compare that feeling to times you’ve served according to how God has gifted you. What is the difference?
• When you serve in the ways God has gifted you—whether in your church, family, or community—what do onlookers come to know about Jesus through you?

Father, thank you for the diverse ways you have dispersed gifts among your followers. Give me eyes to see not only how I contribute to your purposes through my gifts but also how those around me contribute. Remind me that this is what allows your Word to spread. Forgive me for times I may have elevated certain gifts above others and thereby elevated certain people above others. Use me to encourage every person I encounter to be who you’ve made them to be. And may all of my life—every thought, word, and action—honor you and advance your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.