Unstoppable! 'Refusing to Hide Problems' — Acts 6:1-2

Monday, March 20, 2023

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program."

— Acts 6:1-2 NLT

Key Thought

"All decisions are made by the 'higher-ups' in some boardroom, and we never know what is going on!" All too often, rank and file members of an organization feel that their input and their needs don't matter. For many, transparency in leadership is a myth or a political slogan, not a reality. However, transparency in leadership was essential among the early disciples. The apostles were open about problems the early church faced. They dealt with the problems in the full view of the church. So, when Greek-speaking widows were neglected, the apostles addressed the problem, openly. Why are we so afraid of openly addressing and solving our church problems today?

Today's Prayer

Forgive us, Father, for our secrets. Forgive us, O Lord, for our scheming, gossiping, plotting, and concealing information. We want to be more like the first disciples and handle our problems openly, quickly, and fairly. Be with our leaders as they try to be more trusting of us, your people, and as they seek to trust us with the knowledge of our problems. Please help all of us to be trustworthy and to have a commitment to help address and solve our problems in a holy and honorable way. Precious Spirit of the living God, we need your winds of transformation to help us be more holy in the way we address our crises and solve our problems. We ask for this help in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 15:1-34
  • Acts 5:1-11

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 6:1-2 NLT — But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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