Devoted.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…” - Acts 2:42
One word jumps out in picture of the early church from Acts 2:42-47: devoted.
They didn't simply do these things when they had time or when it was convenient. The disciples devoted themselves to them. They were non-negotiable priorities. God's Word, prayer, worship, and life with other believers weren't things squeezed into the leftover spaces of life. They were at the center of their lives.
That's challenging for us because there will always be something competing for our devotion. Work is important. Spending time with family is important. Travel, hobbies, relationships, house projects, rest—many of these are genuinely good gifts from God.
The problem isn't that other things matter. The problem is when everything else gets scheduled first, and our life with God and His people gets whatever is left over (If there is even any room at all).
Devotion doesn’t happen accidentally. Let’s be real, we make room for what we value and prioritize as important.
But look at what grew out of the early church's devotion: deeper relationships, generosity, meals together, prayer, praise—and awe. They were close enough to God and close enough to one another that they could actually see and celebrate what God was doing among them - that he was adding to their number day by day!
Maybe that's part of what we're missing when God continually gets our leftovers.
It's difficult to experience “Life Together” if we're rarely… together. It's difficult to grow in God's Word and in our faith if we rarely open The Bible. And it's difficult to stand in awe of what God is doing if we're too distracted to notice.
God isn't asking us to earn His love by having perfect attendance or flawless devotional habits. Jesus has already given Himself completely for us. He is inviting us to follow him and give him our devotion though. Our devotion is a response to His devotion to us.
So perhaps the question Acts 2 puts before us isn't simply, “Do I go to church?”
It's: What am I devoted to—and does the way I order my life reflect it? If it isn’t God, what needs to change?
Prayer: Jesus, You have given Yourself completely for us. Forgive us when we give You only what is left over. By Your Spirit, make us people devoted to Your Word, prayer, worship, and one another. Teach us to order our lives around Your gifts so that together we might see what You are doing and respond with awe and praise. Amen.
Written by Pastor Daniel Brummet
