🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ Stephen Stepped Out

Scripture: Acts 6:8–10

^{“ 8} And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁹ Then 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.

¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.“

Devotion: In a previous devotion, we learned the qualifications for a servant of the Lord: being full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.

To many people, those qualifications may not have seemed useful or necessary.

But now we come to one of the reasons they were required.

The Lord always has a purpose for everything He asks of us.

Whew!

Sometimes God is preparing us for something we have not even encountered yet.

When the Apostles selected Stephen, they did not know all the ways God was going to use him.

But God knew.

And because Stephen was full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Ghost, he was prepared when the opportunity came.

Today’s scripture tells us that Stephen was doing great wonders and miracles among the people.

Now remember, Stephen was originally selected to help with the food distribution and care of the widows.

That was his assignment.

But he did not limit himself to only doing that.

Glory to God!

Stephen stepped out.

He served faithfully where he was assigned, but he also allowed God to use him beyond his position.

Whew!

That will preach.

Some people only want to do the minimum.

Some people only want to operate inside the boundaries of their title.

But Stephen understood that he was first a servant of God before he was a servant of the church.

So while he was serving tables, he was also sharing truth.

While he was helping people, he was also preaching the Gospel.

While he was doing practical ministry, God was using him in supernatural ministry.

The Bible tells us that religious leaders began debating with Stephen.

But there was a problem.

They could not stand against his wisdom.

Think about that.

These were educated religious men.

Yet they could not overcome the wisdom God had given Stephen.

Why?

Because wisdom from God will always outweigh the wisdom of men.

Stephen was not winning debates because he was the loudest person in the room.

He was winning because he was full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.

The very qualifications that seemed ordinary became his advantage.

This also tells us something about Stephen’s personal life.

He was studying.

He was growing.

He was praying.

He was spending time with God.

He had a passion for truth and a desire to share the Gospel.

You do not accidentally become this effective.

Stephen prepared himself long before the opportunity arrived.

And when the opportunity came, he was ready.

The same is true for us.

Many people want God to use them greatly, but they do not prepare themselves.

God is looking for people who are full of faith, full of wisdom, full of the Holy Ghost, and willing to step out when He calls.

So let me encourage you today:

Serve faithfully where God has placed you.

But do not put limits on how God wants to use you.

You may think your assignment is small.

You may think nobody notices.

But God may be preparing you for something much greater.

Just like Stephen, be ready when your moment comes.

God bless you!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the example of Stephen. Help me to be full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Ghost. Prepare me for every assignment You have for my life. Lord, give me a hunger for Your Word and a passion for sharing the Gospel. Help me to serve faithfully where You have placed me while remaining open to the greater things You desire to do through me. Give me wisdom to speak truth, courage to stand for what is right, and faith to step out when You call. Use my life for Your glory and help me be ready when my opportunity comes.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🕊️