Tuesday, May 28, 2024

What do you think of when you hear the word “devotion”? The word is commonly used within Christian circles, yet many of us may not understand its meaning. Devotion is giving ourselves completely to God, letting him seep into every aspect of our life. The book of Acts offers a valuable framework for living this out. In Acts 2:42, we’re instructed to completely devote ourselves to the church through the gospel, fellowship, communion, and prayer.

Acts 2:42
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

First, we are encouraged to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching; what we today would call the gospel, the Good News of salvation given to us by God through Jesus Christ. It lays the foundation of our faith and creates a space where we can open ourselves up to God’s gift of salvation. When we are moved by the Holy Spirit to follow him, then love for God and others—as well as gratitude—overflows from us. We are blessed to enjoy the kind of intimacy and love for each other God intended us to have as his family.

We are also instructed to intentionally participate in fellowship with each other. Meals have historically been a time when family and friends come together and connect over their lives. They could be vulnerable and open about their days and foster deeper discussion. Communion also provides an opportunity for believers to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross together

Lastly, we must devote ourselves to prayer. This is one of the most common ways we connect with God in our daily lives. Prayer is so powerful; it draws the people of God together to praise him, bring our worries to him, and be in his presence. There are numerous Bible passages about the importance of prayer for each other and with each other, which helps us dedicate ourselves to the church and to the Lord (James 5:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Devoting ourselves completely to the church can seem scary. It is radically different from the ways of the world and takes a great amount of faith. However, a community of other believers adds so much more meaning to our lives. When we fully give ourselves away, we experience a lasting, holy intimacy with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as with the Lord.

Questions:
Think about your deepest friendship—what were the characteristics that made it so deep?

How can you work on deepening your friendships with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Next Steps:
This week, intentionally plan a time of fellowship or share a meal with a group of fellow believers to grow your friendship and relationship with the Lord.

Pray along with a family member or a friend, offering your praises to the Lord and praying for each other’s needs.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thanks for showing me the importance of fostering deep friendships with other believers. Help me to devote and give myself over to you and to the church, even when it may seem scary. Please give me opportunities to grow in fellowship with others in the church and make it a habit to continually meet together, helping each other grow in our faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Proverbs 17:17 ESV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Today’s post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional..