Faith-bearing Seed for the Soul
"While the earth remaineth,
Seedtime and harvest
....shall not cease"

Genesis 8:22

Just a Waiter

He was just a Waiter!

As the early church began to grow, so did its needs. The disciples had to do something to free up their time so that they could spend more in prayer and ministering the Word.  It was customary to divide food up among the widows, and  some widows felt their needs weren't being handled correctly, so the disciples chose seven men "FULL OF THE SPIRIT AND WISDOM" to "wait on tables." Stephen was one of those chosen Godly men.

Have you ever wondered why they needed men full of the Holy Spirit and power to fulfill these duties? For one thing, no man full of PRIDE would take on such a seemingly menial ministry. A man of pride has not yet learned that to be great  in the Kingdom of God, you have to be the servant of all.

Matthew 23:11,12 (Spoken by Jesus)

"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

And, it's easy to teach and preach the Word, but so difficult to LIVE IT, to be an example through our actions. The enemy couldn't care less about those who don't walk their talk, but when a person, full of the Holy Spirit, glorifies the Lord by living the example that Jesus set as a servant, he attacks them ferociously, as we see in the case of Stephen.

Saul, who after his conversion had his name changed to Paul, stood by as Stephen was stoned to death for boldly standing up against the religious bigots of his time. They could not stand up against his wisdom. They were furious and gnashed their teeth when Stephen said:

Acts 7:51-53

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and  ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers  did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him...!"

At this moment they dragged Stephen out of town and stoned him to death...this man of God, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom...this Godly man, who in the eyes of prideful religious men seemed of little importance because to them he was just a waiter. Had Stephen not been a man of great stature in the Lord, he could not have, like Jesus had done, say, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." He was including  Saul in his prayer, who stood by and watched...Saul, who would become Paul, the writer of the majority of the Bible that we live by today.

If the place that the Lord has called you to minister in seems insignificant, but the enemy seems intent on attacking you, rejoice, SERVANT, God's highly chosen "waiter or waitress."

Rooted and grounded in the love of Christ Jesus,

Marlene JuHaros,

Texas Seed Sower

Seed for Thought Devotionals are written as the Lord leads and are sent only if you request a subscription by e-mail.  

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which will grow--perhaps it all will."

Eccl. 11:6

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