Acts to Paul (6)
Pray Psalm 119.41, 42.
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD —
Your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.
Sing 119.41, 42.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Let Your mercies come to me, Your salvation by Your Word.
From reproaches set me free, for I trust in You, O LORD.
Let my life an answer be for those who may question me.
Read Acts 6.1-7; Acts 9.1-9; Eph. 1.15-21; meditate on Acts 6.7.
Preparation
1. What happened when the believers resolved their dispute?
2. How did their enemies respond when they saw this?
Meditation
The glory of the Lord Jesus comes sometimes in a blinding flash, a radiance and power bearing transforming grace. At other times, we may glimpse His glory as the Spirit opens the eyes of our heart to see Jesus, exalted in power at the right hand of God.
Most often, the glory of King Jesus is expressed in love, shown in everyday situations, to bring peace, renewal, help, hope, and power. This is what we see here in Acts 6. A growing unrest and schism could have torn the Church apart and brought the Christian movement to a halt. But Jesus, the King of glory, prevailed to resolve differences, maintain order, and keep His grace increasing.
I think “increased” is better than “spread” here. It’s not just that the Word of God was reaching more people. That was happening, to be sure. But hearing the Word was increasing, especially as the apostles continued to preach and teach. And the Word increased in the lives of the disciples, so that they became stronger in the faith, more loving toward one another, and bolder in their witness. Thus the Word increased in the Church, creating strong ties of oneness and love for the brethren, so that a new community was becoming increasingly evident in Jerusalem. Finally, the Word increased in those hardened against the Gospel, as a great company of the priests began to believe.
The increase of the Word relates to its spread, but also to its impact, to the power it wields in changing lives and bringing new things into being. And this comes back to the apostles and their faithfulness and diligence in ministering the Word. They trusted the Lord of glory that only His Word has the power for realizing the Kingdom, and they would not be distracted or deterred from continuing their ministry.
Seek the face of Jesus, the King of glory, and, while He may not flash His glory out through your everyday life and works, He will certainly shine and radiate it in the warmth of His love.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.“He raises the poor out of the dust,
and lifts the needy out of the ash heap,
that He may seat him with princes—
with the princes of His people.
He grants the barren woman a home,
like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!” (Ps. 113.7-9).
A hubbub arose in the early days of the Church because some of the widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and help of all sorts. This was a noble thing to be upset about. So, Peter suggested that they choose seven men to make sure this problem would be resolved lovingly and correctly.
The qualifications for these men was carefully thought through.
They were to be men:
1. Of good reputation.
2. Full of the Holy Spirit.
3. Full of wisdom.
For all the power and mighty things happening in the early Church, this act of kindness and care, was no doubt, very vital to the growth, the “increase” of the Church in their community.
When you think about what appeals to you about your church community, or what you long for, it is probably less flash and more calm care that you seek. I know I do.
And men with the qualifications of Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas are surely the ones to do it. What a delightful group they must’ve been.
But where are such men today?
Where are the men striving to be such men?
Why don’t our churches hold these kinds of jobs, and these kinds of men in high regard?
“What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar” (Prov. 19.22).
“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” (Prov. 20.6).
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much;
and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Lk. 16.10).
For our churches to grow today, like they did in the early church, we need all kinds of people to fill all the roles in the Body of Christ. Men and women, of whom it can be said are, of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. So that the Word of God will increase and the number of those in Kingdom work will multiply greatly, and those coming to know Jesus will increase that:
all may “know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ
when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand
in the heavenly places…” (Eph. 1.18-20).
This hope, in this Jesus, The King of Glory, and the point of all our being:
having the characteristics capable of caring for widows being a good start.
Reflection
1. How is the grace of the Lord increasing in and through your church?
2. How do you expect to show the glory of God in the everyday activities of your day today?
3. How should prayer figure into your glorifying God in even the small things of your life?
Certainly the sudden raising up of the church, in a moment as it were, was already a remarkable work of God. But just as much admiration should deservedly be given to this, that He furthers the work begun by Him in spite of so many obstacles and that the number is increased by the very people whom the world works so hard to cut down, even to the point of destroying the whole stock. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Acts 6.7-10
Pray Psalm 119.43-48.
Pray for greater delight and trust in God’s Word. Call on the Lord to bring more and more of your life under the authority and transforming power of His Word, that others may see more of Jesus, the King of glory, in you.
Sing 119.43-48.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Let my words be Your words, LORD; strengthen me to keep Your Law.
All my hope is in Your Word, and I seek Your precepts all.
I will ever keep Your Word, for I trust in You, O LORD!
LORD, take not Your Word from me, for I trust it day by day.
I will walk in liberty as Your precepts I obey.
I shall keep Your truth, O LORD, for I hope in all Your Word.
I will speak Your Word to kings, and I will not be ashamed.
In Your Word my glad heart sings, as Your truth I have proclaimed.
In Your Law will I delight, which I love with all my might.
To Your Law I lift my hands to embrace and hold it dear.
In Your truth my glad heart stands, knowing You are ever near.
I will meditate, O LORD, on Your statutes and Your Word.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. It’s not too late to join us for our twice weekly column, Crosfigell, following the life of Brendan the Navigator, one of the great saints of the 6th century. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues to unpack the secrets of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
