27 December 2010 – Feast Day of St Stephen

Psalm 28, 30; 2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 6:1-7

No one ever likes it when they are called to account. This passage tells us that God had sent prophets to the people yet they ignored them and went after the idols of Baal and the Asherim. We don’t like to have our idols pointed out to us and told we are worshipping them. With these, worship was obvious in ways that perhaps some of our own are not. What could God not take from your life without causing enormous upset for you to lose it. In my own life the Lord chose to take away a career that I didn’t realize how much it meant until He took it. There was a prestige that attached to it that I didn’t want to lose as well as some perks that hurt as well. I clung to the hope of resurrecting that career for several years, invested my money, my time and my prayers begging God to give it back until finally giving in to His will for my life. Zechariah paid the ultimate price for calling God’s people to account.

Why were deacons chosen? The disciples wanted to devote themselves to preaching, teaching and prayer. What was the result of raising up deacons? The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. The plan worked! It was very similar to what Jethro told Moses to do when he saw him judging all the people all day, raise up some other folks to help with the pastoral part of the job. The job qualifications for deacons was that they were to be “good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” Their job was to oversee the daily distribution of food to the widows. How them did Stephen become the first martyr? Preaching. We all have to be prepared to preach the word in season and out, it is everyone’s responsibility, just not everyone’s priority.

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.