Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
When you think of the word devoted, what do you think of? You know, when I was dating my wife Nancy back in college, she was incredibly devoted to piano. I was pretty devoted to her because I was very interested in dating her, and so we were hanging out a little bit. I actually was so devoted to her that I went and watched her play piano in her practice area, and she would play all the time.
She was getting ready for a recital, and she had to memorize a 20-minute piece, and she was in there every single day. I'll never forget—she had hands that were just full of muscles and calluses because she was playing so much. When you think about that word devoted again for yourself, what are you devoted to? What am I devoted to?
We're going to look at our Verse of the Day today. It's from Acts chapter 2 verse 42. It's a tremendous passage.
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.
The theme of the book of Acts is the church on fire. The church is on fire at this point in chapters 1 and 2. We see the power of the church, the things that made the church absolutely powerful.
What I want to do is very simply look at four passions for you and for me that come right out of this passage—four passions of a strong Christian, four passions that a church should commit to, four passions of a great Bible study.
Passion #1: The Word of God
Their number one passion was for the Word of God. The early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching. This is the Word of God. Way back then, just like today, there was deception. There's all kinds of voices that are clamoring for your attention in this world that you and I live in. How are we going to stand? We're going to stand by being committed to the Word of God.
2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 says, All Scripture is inspired by God—it doesn't mean that there's just this book and God kind of breathed on it. It means that the Word of God is breathed out from God, the very nature, as it were, of God. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God—or the woman of God—may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
I love this passage. There's all kinds of passages in the Bible we could go to. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 says, The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, and it gets way down deep into your soul and mind.
Passion #2: Fellowship
They were first committed to the apostles' teaching. Secondly, they were committed to fellowship—committed relationships with one another. Which relationships are you committed to in your life? They were committed to the Word of God, and they were committed to fellowship.
Passion #3: Breaking Bread Together
Thirdly, they were committed to sharing in meals or the breaking of bread together and observing communion. Why? Because they always wanted the work of Jesus Christ—the amazing forgiveness that He has given to us, choosing never to remember our sins ever again. They wanted to be around the gospel, the truth of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for all of their sins.
Passion #4: Prayer
Finally, they were committed to prayer. One of my professors once said this: if you understand the battle, you will pray. In Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10, right before the armor of God and the spiritual warfare that we all battle against, it says, Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. He puts two Greek words together, showing very simply that: you're in a supernatural battle, and the only way that you can win the supernatural battle is to use supernatural weapons. That's prayer. Even later in that section in chapter 6, Paul says, Pray for me. Pray for me.
Colossians chapter 4 verse 2 says, Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.
I'll never forget Martin Lloyd-Jones—he's now with the Lord. He's a tremendous preacher, tremendous pastor. He once said, "If I wanted to embarrass someone in their spiritual life, I'd ask them about their prayer life."
Look at what you're devoted to. We're devoted to a lot of things—the early church, great Bible studies, and great ministries that are devoted to and passionate about the Word of God. They're passionate about fellowship. They're passionate about Christ and breaking bread, and they're passionate about prayer. May God make you—may He make me—this type of person. Whatever ministry you're involved in, may these be the passions that we're committed to.
