Acts 6:3 Wherefore, 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. Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Two thoughts come to mind in today’s reading. The first is that being full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, isn’t just for pastors, ministers, or staff members. It’s for the man who sits in the pew as well as the man in the pulpit. And in our preaching, this teaching ought not to be neglected, for the Lord wants fellowship with and and to work in the “layman” as well as the pastor.

Secondly we see the importance of the ministry of prayer and of the Word. Especially for those of us who preach and serve the Lord full time – prayer and the Word aren’t supplements to our ministry – they are what makes our ministry. If we don’t pray, and we’re not feeding with the Word, what do we have? We may have a crowd. We may fill an auditorium. But we won’t have what the Apostles knew they needed – power from on high to feed the flock and do the work. Might we “give ourselves to prayer” and to the Word of God as we seek to serve Him and those to whom He’s called us to serve.