No Small Jobs



Acts 6:8-15
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,
13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

There are no small jobs in God’s Kingdom. Stephen is proof of that. After being named as one of those responsible for the distribution of food, Stephen goes about the business of living out loud for God. Clearly, he is filled with the Holy Spirit and allows the Lord to work through him in numerous ways. He is described as being “full of grace and power”. What an awe inspiring thing to say about someone.

Oscar Wilde first coined the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished”. We will find that Stephen lives that out in a dramatic way. He is simply living in the Spirit, “doing great wonders and signs among the people” when he gains the attention of the synagogue leaders. The next events could have been pulled from the life of Jesus Himself. Those in charge start looking for ways to stop the worker of miracles. The lies begin – but wow! It’s hard to come against someone whose face looks like that of an angel. And remember – this is a guy who was chosen to hand out food. There are no small jobs.

Despite the fact that Stephen faces difficulty because of his work you can’t help but be impressed by someone who lets the Holy Spirit shine through his life so clearly. I find it enviable and convicting. I know that’s not how people always see me and that’s a little sad. I’m afraid the “old Adam” shows through more often than not. But here’s the deal. Neither am I going to give up and just let the sin flow. Instead, I ask that the Lord shine in such a way that others see Him just as they did with Stephen.

Father God, I know that I allow my flesh to rule the day on so many occasions. But I also know that Jesus died because of those sins and has forgiven me through His sacrifice. Since that is true, please show Yourself in my life and actions to a greater degree today. And thank You that this is even possible! Amen.

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