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A Personal Devotional by Debbie Hall
The Deacon
The specific title Deacon only occurs a few times in the New Testament
But the word deacon appears many times, usually translated not as deacon but as “servant” and sometimes “minister”
To be a deacon is to be a servant
John 12:26 “Whoever deacons me must follow me, and where I am, my deacon will be. My Father will honor the one who deacons me”
Matthew 20:26 “whoever wants to be great must be your deacon.”
Matthew 23:11 “the greatest among you will be your deacon”
Acts 6:1-7 The apostle/elders didn’t want to become so busy that their role “deaconing the Word” would suffer- so the church called out the first Deacons to “deacon” the needs of widows in their midst
Pastors deacon the word and shepherd the flock while “deacons” deacon physical needs in the body
This allows the entire church to stay on track in its role in the world
This should not be construed to mean that the work of the deacon is only physical
They are spiritual representatives of their church
In the early church the deacons read and sang scripture in church, received offerings, distributed church resources to the poor, visited widows, distributed communion, led prayers during the service, even did a little church security
In I Timothy 3, which gives requirements for bishops (or elders) and deacons, the only difference in the requirements is that the elders are “able to teach,” some exceptionally able
I Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine
But the New Testament knows no greater moral requirements for elders or pastors then it does for deacons
Why? Because to serve officially for the church, to have hands laid on you, is to be a prime example of the life the church is laboring to see reproduced in others by God’s grace!
I Timothy 3:13 “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Good standing & boldness comes through deaconing well
Exactly what we see in Acts after deacons come into being
Stephen speaks boldly, gets a standing ovation from Jesus!
Phillip leads a man to Christ and baptizes him!
Gentlemen, serve well
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” Jude 24-25