June 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 6:

¹And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
²Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
³Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
⁴But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
⁶Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
⁷And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
⁸And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
⁹Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
¹⁰And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
¹¹Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
¹²And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
¹³And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
¹⁴For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
¹⁵And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Devotional

The Word of God is never a dead letter. A thing that is dead does not grow. The Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Christ said, "The words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life." The word of God is powerful; it prevails against all opposition. It grows and multiplies. We read, "The word of God increased; and the num­ber of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." These results were not obtained by the power and wisdom of men; but through the preaching of the Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the only way to get true spiritual results. Paul writes to the Corinthians: "I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wis­dom of men, but in the power of God." There we often make a mistake. We look at the man, at his qualifications. They may be there, and all right in their place; but if we expect spiritual results from them as such, we shall be doomed to disappointment. Our faith must not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. God can use a weak, fearful trembling man for the extension of his kingdom and to his glory. God had much people in Corinth, a great and wicked city. We read, "Many of the Cor­inthians hearing, believed, and were baptized." And Paul thanked God always on their behalf for the grace of God which was given them by Jesus Christ. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. It does so today.

Prayer

We thank Thee, O God our Father, that Thou hast preserved Thy Word unto us; that Thou dost still speak unto us; that sinners may still hear and believe and be saved; that believers through Thy Word and Spirit out of weakness are made strong; are comforted in their sorrow; are given assurance in times of doubt and fear, and are enabled to hold fast the confi­dence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Bless us and keep us. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Heb. 4:12; John 6:63; Acts 12:24; 6:7; 1 Cor. 2:3-5; Acts 18:8.

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