Intro Welcome back to The Morning Meditation Podcast with Missionary Joe Consford. Today we’ll be reading from Acts chapter 6. Tomorrow we’ll read Psalms 24 through 28. Acts 6 reminds us that the early church grew through faithful service, not fame. God blessed humble men who simply wanted to help—men full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. The same spirit of service has marked Baptist history for generations. 📖 Scripture Reading (Acts 6 – in paragraph form) As the number of disciples increased, a complaint arose that the Grecian widows were being neglected in the daily ministration. The apostles gathered the multitude and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” They instructed the church to choose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, to oversee the work. They chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch. These men were set before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The Word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders among the people. Though false witnesses rose up against him, his face shone like that of an angel as he stood firm for the Lord. 📜 Story – “William Carey: The Servant Who Would Not Quit” In the late 1700s, a young English Baptist pastor named William Carey worked as a cobbler by trade. While others saw shoes, Carey saw maps—he hung one over his workbench and prayed for the unreached nations of the world. When he stood before the ministers of his day and urged them to send missionaries, one older preacher rebuked him, saying, “Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your help or mine.” But Carey wouldn’t quit. He kept praying, giving, and teaching. Eventually, he and a few faithful men formed the Baptist Missionary Society. Carey left England for India in 1793, where he translated the Bible into multiple languages, founded schools, and labored for over 40 years. He buried his wife and son in that foreign land. He faced sickness, loss, and constant setbacks. Yet through it all, Carey kept serving. His motto summed up the heart of Acts 6: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” He didn’t seek fame—he sought faithfulness. And because of that, his quiet obedience helped ignite the modern missionary movement. 💭 Reflection – Three Lessons on Serving God Faithfully 1. True service begins with surrender. The seven men in Acts 6 were already serving when they were chosen. God doesn’t call the idle; He uses the willing. 2. Humility opens the door to fruitfulness. Like William Carey, we must be willing to do the work no one else wants to do. God honors faithfulness in the hidden places. 3. Faithful servants leave a lasting legacy. Stephen’s testimony and Carey’s perseverance both echo through history. They remind us that one obedient servant can change the world when God is in it. 🌿 Featured Verse “And 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.” — Acts 6:7 (KJV) Outro Thank you for joining The Morning Meditation Podcast with Missionary Joe Consford. If today’s episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, and visit consfords.com to learn more about our missionary work in Ghana. You can also join our email list to receive devotionals and field updates. Tomorrow we’ll read Psalms 24 through 28 and reflect on the glory of the Lord, the King of Glory Himself. Until then, remember: God still uses ordinary servants who are fully surrendered to Him.

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