April 18th, 2021
Devotional
“Stephen’s Witness”
Acts 6:1—7:2a, 44-60
Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com
Monday: “The Widows” - Acts 6: 1-4
As the early church grew, so did their need for organization. When a few people gather together to share their lives and possessions with one another, it can easily be contained. But when thousands upon thousands join in, there needs to be a different structure. When it became apparent that the old way of doing things was no longer working, the disciples, the teachers and leaders of the movement, called everyone together and honestly spoke the truth saying, we cannot do everything. We are called to teach and pray. So find seven people from among those whom you respect and trust who are called to organize the distribution of food.
We are part of a denomination that believes that followers of Christ are all called to share their gifts and talents for the good of the church. We even have a name for it, lay leadership. We have people who step in and do whatever needs to be done, even if it is not their gifting. And we have people who do not view themselves as leaders, so they push their gifts and talents aside. We believe in lay leadership, but somewhere between our belief and our action things become muddled.
How are you living into your gifts to help the community?
Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes when problems present themselves before us, we do not view them as opportunities. We run the other way, shying from what you may be inviting us to venture into for the sake of your Kingdom. Forgive us, O Lord, and help us claim who you have created us to be for such a time as this. Amen.
Tuesday: “Spread” - Acts 6: 5-7
The disciples did not debate with those who came to them about whether the Hellenisitc believers widows were being slighted food or not. They simply responded in a way that appropriately said, we hear your concern and we will address it fairly. There wasn’t judgement. Simply reaching out in love. But the disciples had to be open to hearing the need and equipping others to respond, thus having leadership arise from the community’s needs.
We also need to trust that God will give us the resources to serve in missions. Often we get so caught up in the reasons that we cannot do something that we overlook what we have been gifted to do. The disciples could have complained about not having enough food for everyone or not enough time or people to get the job done. But instead they approached in creatively, trying something new. They didn’t know if it would work, but they were willing to try. Are we willing to risk trying to serve our community in a new way, too? We need to be open to allowing the Holy Spirit work through us in a new way so we can touch people’s lives?
How was the Holy Spirit inviting the early church into a new way of being and what was the result?
Prayer: Lord, we are people who like the way that things have been. Yet, you are often inviting us to step out in faith in new ways. Lord, give us the courage to follow you in order to best serve your Kingdom and name. Amen.
Wednesday: “Opposition” - Acts 6: 8-14
When people tell me that faith should be easier “than this”, I often think of the story of Stephen. Somewhere along the way, we have sanitized the Gospel and Acts into little stories to be words of encouragements to us, instead of reminders of truth throughout the ages. Truths like, living into our faith will lead to opposition. Not everyone is going to like what we have to say. And there are going to be times that this life of faith is going to cost us greatly.
For Stephen, I can just imagine the wave of relief he must have felt when the whole internal argument within the early church about the food distribution to the widows was taken care of. Whew! That could have ended badly. But just as the internal argument subsides, the argument from the outside starts.
Some folks who didn’t like what Stephen was teaching tried to argue him into their way of belief, only that didn’t work, for he was given wisdom from on high. So then they started rumors about him - taking his words out of context to use against him (as had been done to Jesus in the not too distant past).
Yet, Stephen approached the external opposition with the same grace as he did the internal arguments. He tried to speak wisdom and truth, even if others were not ready to hear it. For who he was as a deacon, a servant, in the early church, was a reflection of his truest heart, no matter where he was or what he faced.
How do you handle conflict with grace?
Prayer: God, we thank you that even in times of opposition you are with us and your truth will be made known. It does not mean that things will always be easy, but Lord, we know your presence will lead us. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Thursday: “True” - Acts 6: 15- 7:2
You have to appreciate the irony in this moment. Stephen is literally glowing, like his face had seen an angel, probably like Moses had shone so long ago, to the point of frightening the people, but the high priest asks him of what he is saying is true.
He either didn’t see the glowing or he didn’t understand it.
He missed that the truth was literally overflowing right out of Stephen as a light from above.
There are going to be times that people misunderstand what we say. Or make assumptions. Or twist our words. There are going to be times when people ask us if it is true. My hope and prayer during this time is that we don’t jump right in with words, but take a moment to let the truth of God just flow out of us - even if others miss what is happening. We proclaim the truth of God not just with our words, but with our heart.
How do you bear witness to the truth of God?
Prayer: Lord, we join Stephen is rushing not to defend ourselves, but calling others to you. Let our lives bear witness to your holiness and your name, we pray. Not to us, but to your name be the glory. Amen.
Friday: “Stiff-Necked People” - Acts 7: 44-60
Stephen gets swept up in the Spirit and starts to connect the dots for folks. He tells the story of the ancient Israelites, their ancestors, which is really at its core, the story of God’s faithfulness and salvation. He walks the high priest through everything he would have already known, but tells of how it points to Jesus. And how people, including those listening now, have rejected it all.
Ouch.
Stephen is essentially saying that God has fulfilled the promises made to the patriarchs so long ago. The Messiah has come. But people were too busy crucifying him to notice. God was trying to offer the salvation from of old, but in this way that people did not expect, so they pushed it aside.
For these words, Stephen was stoned.
In a perfect world, everyone we tell about Jesus would understand and have their hearts and lives transformed. But we live with hard hearts. If we are honest, we were probably once people with hard hearts. So we keep speaking the truth in love. We keep planting the seeds of faith. Even when it costs us.
For we know the next part of the story. Who was at the stoning of Stephen who would eventually have his life changed? Saul who became known as Paul, who took the Gospel to the Gentiles.
It may not always be comfortable to share the truth, especially when people turn away and will not listen, but we keep showing up. We keep bearing witness - trusting that God is doing a good work even beyond our wildest imaginations.
How have you seen God’s timing come to bear fruit in people’s lives?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the one who can soften hard hearts - including our own. Thank you for being the God who does not give up on us, but who bears fruit in your perfect timing. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Saturday: Preparing for the Word
You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized” - Acts 8:26-39
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