A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Devoted to..."

It is absolutely necessary for us to get the proper nutrition if we are to grow and function. As a child I was taught how important it was to eat daily balanced meals which was eating food from each of the three food groups. Today we speak more about proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. But the basic message is still the same. If we do not get the necessary nutrition we will be unhealthy and could even die.

This is as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical realm. There are far too may malnourished anorexic Christians today due to their neglect in feeding their lives in Christ. What is the Christians diet?

In Acts 2:42 we learn that the early Christians were "devoted to the apostle's teachings, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:43-47 describes the powerful effective ministry that took place as a result of such devotion to these essential "spiritual food groups". Devotion is a strong word. It calls us to loving, passionate, habitual, committed involvement. It is not a mere taste. It is a regular healthy devouring.

Scripture is the apostle's teaching for us today. To be devoted to the Word is the study, memorization, and living out the Scriptures. Not cursory glance, but a diligent meditative study and learning the Word. It is subjecting ourselves to solid biblical preaching and teaching of the Word. We need to "hear the Word" as much as, if not more than, to read the Word. These all lead to life lived in accordance to His Word by the power of the Spirit.

Devotion to the fellowship is active involvement in and submission to a body of believers - a local church. Fellowship is our hearts being bound together in Christ. It is unity in Christ, purpose, and love. It is interdependence, mutual support, discipling, being discipled, accountability, cooperative ministry, walking together in the Light as Jesus is in the Light (1 John 1:7) - Fellowship; Commun-ity! The breaking of bread refers to Communion (the Eucharist). The breaking of bread is one of the fullest expressions of unity in Christ that a church does together. Notice how fellowship and the breaking of bread are linked in the text. Receiving and partaking of the elements (the "bread and wine") includes a commitment to living the way of the cross. The Christian life can not be lived in isolation. It requires the fellowship of believers.

The is no substitute for prayer. Devotion to both private and corporate prayer are indispensable. Scripture is replete with admonitions to pray and with examples of prayer. There are a myriad of books written over the centuries by saints of God pleading God's people to pray, teaching us about prayer, giving us examples of prayer and revealing to us he results of prayer. Its not enough to know about prayer. We must be devoted to it! We must pray!

Far much more can be said about each of these vital disciplines on our lives. But, this passage and the example of these early Christians should challenge us to raise up and join together with passionate devotion to the Word, the Fellowship, and Prayer. Doing so will make Acts 2:43-47 a description of us as well as of the first century church.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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