YOUR HEART FOR SERVICE

Acts 6:5-7a This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

I find it interesting that having delegated the responsibility for food distribution (as a result of complaints involving Greek widows being under-served), that the group would choose seven men to oversee this responsibility -- all of whom were Greek. Who better to make sure a job is done right than the ones who have expressed the concern?

Many times we are more than willing to voice complaints, yet lack the resolve to get involved. In this case, from the same group that was affected by the oversight, came men who were willing to serve in tangible ways to correct the problem.

I really like this excerpt from John F. Kennedy's inaugural speech in 1961, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." It gets to the heart of service -- your heart. Are you just going to complain about injustice and a lack of entitlement or are you willing to do something about it?

God has given you a set of skills (or life experiences) and a heart for a particular ministry area. In this way you are uniquely equipped for service. This may change over the years as well (my ministry area today is not the exactly the same as it was 10 years ago -- it has grown as I have become more mature in Christ). What is your ministry area? What has God uniquely prepared you to do? Will you start now?

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