Four Devotions6/9/2024 Acts 2:42 ~ “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” There was something different about the early church. Their leaders were “uneducated, common men” (see Acts 4:13). They had no marque members, no organized social events, no Sunday school, no eight-week study course on spiritual formation and no building to meet in that could be cleverly decorated. The early church didn’t stage protests – they prayed. They didn’t organize marches – they ministered. And they didn’t call people to self-imposed religion – they called people to self-denying repentance. And they changed the world. What was it about the early church? They were devoted, not to a cause but to Christ, and that devotion was played out in every aspect of their lives. So let me encourage you: take these four devotions as a challenge for your own life. You may be surprised at how God will use you when you follow them.
This is how discipleship is built: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). Love is seen in obedience: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).
Through fellowship we become mature: “…from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). It provides the means of mutual encouragement: “…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).
It is a call to self-examination: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Christ is honored in this: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:40).
Prayer is personal communion with God: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Prayer is essential for spiritual readiness: “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). People are devoted to many things. People are devoted to causes, political endeavors, altruistic philanthropy, medical research – and all these can be good. But the Christian must be devoted, first and always, to Christ Jesus our LORD. This devotion is experienced through the Word of God, the people of God, the worship of God and prayers to God. This is how the early church anchored their faith and grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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