Nougat 15

Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to consider God’s greater glory.

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” Romans 12:7 NLT

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

Acts of the Apostles 6:3 NLT

Many of us might not see Service as a gift of God’s Spirit, but it is. And despite its seemingly humble status, it is a valuable and essential spiritual gift. Translated from the Greek diakonia, we might not be surprised to discover that it’s also the root for deacon. And the role of elders was reserved for teaching and evangelism.

In the Acts church, we meet 7 deacons who are specially anointed for service. (See Acts 6 for more details). Their task,, to ensure the welfare of the widows in the community, freeing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching. One might hear echoes of Exodus 19, where Moses was overdoing and overworking and his father-in-law Jethro Ruel was obliged to offer much needed advice. In Moses’ time, those anointed for Service were settling disputes; and offering secondary leadership. These deacons however were preventing a schism in the nascent church.

This is an important point, for many of us might still not see merit in Service. But we note that the criteria for selection focused on the anointing of God’s Spirit and not on natural talents. Service is thus about being open to the Spirit’s prompting in order that God’s glory might be revealed. True, the revelation might occur through someone else; but if we Serve for God’s glory, then at the right time God will lift us up.

Within most churches today, the ministry of Service tends to be described as Outreach or Mission and Outreach. Few tend to classify Diakonia or Service as Inreach. Otherwise, we zero in on the decision-making aspect, which may convey the sense that helping others is only about Leadership (or profiling). Rather, this anointing requires that we are willing to truly see and hear those in need. Can we hear the cries of those in need?

Lord if it be for Service, please anoint and appoint us for Your glory. Amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ