Scripture to Read: Acts 6:6
God had laid on the hearts of the congregation the seven men He knew would lead well in the ministry to the widows. Then we read in Acts 6:6, “And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.” God led the apostles to pray for these men and lay their hands on them. The laying on of hands was a sign of approval that the apostles agreed that God had called these men. It’s interesting that nowhere in Acts 6 are these men called deacons, but many theologians see these men as fulfilling the office of deacon as laid out in 1 Timothy 3:8–13. The word deacon means “servant,” and God had called these men to be servants by leading the ministry to the widows. From what God has revealed to us so far, we know that these seven men most assuredly served our Lord well. Here is what God tells us in 1 Timothy 3:13 about deacons who serve Him well: “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” These men had been chosen because they already had a good reputation among the congregation and were highly respected. God desires that all of us live our lives so that we also have a good reputation among everyone who knows us and that our confidence in our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord is strong and never wavering. We’re not meant to live in the shadows but to boldly serve our Lord.
Challenge & Application
• What would people say about you and your walk with Christ?
• Do you have a good reputation among all who know you, and is your confidence in your faith in Christ strong? Why or Why not?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!