Growing Pains

Daily Reading: Acts 6

Scripture Focus: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. (Acts 6.1)

Devotional Thought: I’ve pastored six different churches in three different states.  I’ve seen my congregations growing, and I’ve seen them shrinking.  I’d rather have growth problems than shrinkage problems!  But, the problems that come with growth are real. 

The Jerusalem congregation in Acts 6 was growing, and they experienced growing pains.  The apostles were responsible for the feeding of widows, and they weren't keeping up.  The problem was growing because more and more widows were coming to church!  Whose idea was it to get all those widows saved anyway? 

Can you hear some of what might have been said?  “I don’t like these new people the pastor is bringing in...”  Or, “I think that they are coming to the church just to get a handout…”  Or, “The pastors are spending too much time and money on these widows…”  Or, from the opposite perspective... “I’ve been a part of this church ever since it started and if we can’t help my aunt then something is wrong…” Or, “I missed six meals last week, and nobody called me…”  Or, “I don’t believe the church really cares about me…” 

"Political pressure" was mounting.  When it reached a tipping point, the church finally reacted.  The apostles removed themselves from the distribution of aid to the poor, and the job got done - by laymen!  The church started growing again!  Uh-oh: more problems!

Have you ever been a part of a church with problems?  Of course you have because every church has problems.  Even the vaunted “New Testament Church” faced stuff just like we do.  The answer is not to give up on the Church.  Jesus didn’t!  The answer is to get the right people doing the right jobs and then be patient while the problems are worked out. 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for my church.  We may not be perfect, but we are yours!  Give our pastors and leaders wisdom to solve problems, and help me do my part to promote unity and peace.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 68.19-27

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

22 The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe."

24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--

25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines:

26 "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"

27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.