Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Saturday, October 5, 2024

QT 10/5/2024 Acts 6:2-4, The importance of using your gift

Acts 6:2–4 (ESV) —

2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

 

NOTE: "It is not right" is not an indication that one thing is more important than another thing, that is, the twelve are not saying that preaching is more important than serving. I think the Apostles are not able to use their spiritual gifts because others in the body were not using their spiritual gifts as they should. They chose seven men to take over this ministry, these men are our first examples of deacons. They serve in a way that relieves the pastor/elders to serve as God has gifted them.

 

Our church currently does not have a lay-elder role, or at least not officially. We only have deacons and then paid full-time pastors. But, God is not limited by structure or scheme. If a person is a pastor-teacher (elder) then he needs to exercise that gift, even if he does not receive or have that title. My gifts are teaching, studying, discipling, and giving. I can serve, all people should serve, but it does not excite me like teaching does. Still, I can perform the role of an elder even if there is no position or title in the church. The body has parts, not titles or name plates. The most important thing is that we discover our gift and then utilize it, whether or not there seems to be a place for it. There is always a place for a gift, we might have to create it by doing it.

 

PONDER:

  1. What is/are my gifts and how am I using it/them?
  2. Am is using an excuse of no places to serve for the reason I am not exercising my gift?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the body I serve in. I pray for wisdom for the new pastor as he brings in new practices. I pray you would protect him. I pray that our church would be unified and accept his leadership.

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