Nougat 29

Before we chastise ourselves for the gift we have, or our seeming lack of gifts, let us recognise that ultimately, it is God’s Spirit at work in us that makes the true difference. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

‭Acts of the Apostles 6:2-3 NLT‬

[2] So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.

[3] And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

Full of God’s Spirit

The apostles were in a quandary. The fellowship had grown. There was too much work for them to attend to if they were to have time for God or preach as they ought. A solution was found. God’s Spirit offered similar wisdom as was given to Moses – Get help (see Exodus 18).

You see siblings, we can’t do everything. Jesus, Who could, didn’t try. So let us recognize that we’re human and we have limits. In turn, we learn to accept the help we need to accomplish our assigned tasks. With one caveat. We seek God’s guidance. This is the example the apostles set for us.

Led by God’s Spirit, they determined the qualifications needed for their assistants. They sought well respected [men], full of the Spirit and wisdom (from their fellowship). But notice, the seven assistants were needed to organise the food for the widows and other sundry duties. Can you imagine the Help Wanted ad – ‘Servers and Food Coordinators Needed.

Only Godly, Spirit-filled men of wisdom need apply’

Imagine how many were put off by the requirements. But, to work in God’s vineyard, that’s what mattered.

This says two critical things to me

1. When we seek support for God’s ministry, seek folks who are anointed by God’s Spirit. For God, that’s what is a priority. Not their ability to hold 5 plates at the same time, not their excellent accounting skills, etc. Rather, it’s the yieldedness to God’s Spirit.

2. God affirms all spiritual gifts. For many of us, it’s speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, and maybe discerning that hold high regard. Those might have been helpful for the ministry of the apostles; but not necessarily vital to the assistants. I believe service (aka helps), wisdom, and faith were essential. Even for what some consider menial tasks in the body of Christ, the anointing matters.

1 Corinthians 12:18b speaks to that in more detail, as the believers were reminded, ‘God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose.’ It is God who selects our spiritual functions, and for God, all members in the Body of Christ are essential. There are no secondary people. In other words, God qualifies the called, God doesn’t always call the qualified.

May we find that our qualifications for ministry remain Spirit-filled regardless of what we’re called to do.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ