July 3
Bible Reading: Acts 6:1-7
Acts 6:2, “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”
Acts 6:4, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Her days on earth were drawing to an end. In fact, her son had doubted she’d make it through the previous night. She hadn’t eaten but a few bites of food in the preceding weeks. I had come to visit, and after talking with the son for a bit, I asked if I could enter her room and pray for her. Her eyes opened when I greeted her, and I reminded her I was the chaplain. She reached out her hand, and I held it as I read a few Scriptures passages and talked about the saving work of Jesus. I spoke of His readiness to draw near and bring her safely home to heaven and reminded her that nothing mattered more than trusting in Him. I sang a hymn, “Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” and I prayed for her. I found out later that she was actively dying. She’d hardly eaten a thing for weeks, but God had, in His Word, something better for her. We can’t live long without food or water, but we can’t truly live (in a spiritual sense) apart from the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
It was necessary and right that the church should provide food for its widows, but Jesus commissioned the twelve to a more vital task. When Jesus exhorted Peter three times to “feed My sheep,” (John 21:15-17), he set forth what is to be the number one priority for all subsequent shepherds. The twelve understood their need to prioritize devotion “to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). And we do well to establish that same priority for ourselves.
“First of all,” Paul instructed Timothy, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1). Prayer is a “first of all” priority. Likewise, he charged Timothy to “preach the word,” understanding the strategic role of the teaching of the Word in the spiritual health and growth of the church (2 Timothy 4:1-2). The church has a responsibility to care for the physical needs of its members, but the supreme task of a shepherd is to keep the flock well-fed with the powerful-to-save-and transform Word of God. There will come a day for us all when physical food will no longer matter, but “the words of eternal life” will never lose their power or appeal!
We can’t live long without food, but we can’t truly live (in a spiritual sense) apart from the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.
Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Christ, the blessed one, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven. [Refrain]
Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 