Category: Daily Devotions

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits!  (WATCH HERE)

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Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves…to prayer”

 

Communication is key in any relationship.

I recently started rereading a leadership book by John Maxwell called, “Everyone communicates, few connect.” The premise of the book is that one can use words to communicate ideas and thoughts, but if they do not take an interest in the person, there is no connection and thus the communication is ineffective.  Ideally one does both – communicate AND connect.

I was musing on this thought in regard to my prayer life and perhaps what it meant that the early Christians were devoted to the habit of prayer. 

One can find numerous examples in the book of Acts of the early Christians praying about people, praying for the advancement of the Gospel, praying for the safety of the Apostles, praying for God to open doors and more.  Their devotion to prayer makes it evident that prayer was habitual and a first resort when dealing with challenges in life, but especially the challenges that came as a result of being a follower of Christ.

But one also senses that the prayer life of the first century Christian was not just a “Hey, we better pray about it” but rather a habit based on a deep connection to the One to whom they prayed.  It was only natural in the context of that relationship and connection to pray, to communicate to the One who had a deep and sincere connection with them and they with him.

Habitual prayer is good, but perhaps dangerous when it turns into empty words without any or little awareness of the relationship with the one to whom we pray.

Jesus taught: Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Many prayers and many words do not make a connection in prayer.  Words that come from a heart of love and trust in the Father who hears our prayer because we are his children are the prayers that are heard.

So what does this habit look like?  It’s interesting that it’s last in this brief list, but the first items foster the connection with the Lord (devoted to the Apostles’ teaching and the breaking of bread) and the relationship with God’s people (devoted to the fellowship).  With these meaningful relationships in place, the habit of prayer flows from these connections.  We want to pray to the God who reveals himself in the pages of Scripture and his work of grace.  We want to pray for the people of God with whom we share life and ministry with.  We want to pray for ourselves and share the joys and concerns in our heart.

Why? Because we have a connection with the One to whom we communicate.

 

Apply: Evaluate: Does your connection in prayer or your communication in prayer need nurture to develop a deeper habit of prayer?  If it’s connection, devote yourself to the Scriptures and let prayer flow from what you read.  If it’s communication, devote yourself to time in your day which is spent in prayer.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for establishing a connection with us through the faith you have given and the relationship you have nurtured.  Lead me to never lose the joy and privilege of prayer you have given and encouraged to strengthen our connection and allow me to communicate with you.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits!  (WATCH HERE)

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“They devoted themselves to the…breaking of bread…”

Perhaps at face value, devotion to “breaking of bread” seems like something insignificant and perhaps puzzling.  Why would the early believers be devoted to the breaking of bread?  Were they interested in the first potlucks and eating together?  Did they not want to miss a meal?  Perhaps.  In fact just a few verses later in Acts 2:46 it says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,…” This seems to be the potlucks and second Sunday lunches.

So what about in verse 42?  What is meant by the breaking of bread?  Perhaps this quote from a blog article is helpful:

The phrase “breaking bread” is a figure of speech called a synecdoche where a “part stands for the whole.” In other words, the phrase “breaking bread” includes both the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. It is simply a reference to the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), the “Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21), the “communion” (1 Corinthians 10:16), and “to break bread” (Acts 20:7). (https://www.thegospelofchrist.com/knowledge-base/tgoc-kb–skckd)

In the context of the devotion of the early believers to the Apostles’ teaching, the fellowship and prayer, it makes complete sense that there was a regular habit of celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

Should the same devotion exist today?

Absolutely!

Is it?  Maybe?

Devotion to the Lord’s Supper wanes when we think, “Hmm, going to be a long service today…we have the Lord’s Supper.”  We perhaps need to examine our hearts a bit deeper when we stay away from worship on a regular basis and thus the Lord’s Supper as well.

The early believers were devoted to celebrating the Lord’s Supper. But why?

They needed the forgiveness Jesus gave in his supper.

They wanted the presence of Jesus in their lives.

They were eager to proclaim boldly the death and resurrection of Jesus.

They desired to express a unity of belief and purpose as they communed with the Lord and each other.

The same is true today.  Make it a habit to ensure you are in worship when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated (At Crosspoint it is the first and third Sunday of the month.) Why?

It’s what our souls need for the assurance of forgiveness.

It’s what our faith needs to commune personally with the real presence of our Savior Jesus.

It’s what our witness needs to boldly and clearly profess faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

It’s what our relationships need as we express a close and intimate unity with the others who commune (This practice of close communion, i.e. communing only with those of the same faith, is the way this close communion is expressed and preserved.).

The “Breaking of Bread,” the Lord’s Supper, is what devoted Christians do.  It’s a regular part of our spiritual rhythms to ensure we commune regularly with the Lord at his table.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

A habit that reinforces our devotion to communing with the Lord keeps our souls at peace and our hearts at one with our Savior and our community of believers.

Apply: What is your attitude toward the Lord’s Supper?  What changes when you agree to be devoted to the breaking of bread?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for giving of yourself in your Holy Supper.  Lead me to treasure it and be devoted to it so I receive the regular blessing from it!  AMEN

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits!  (WATCH HERE)

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Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves…to the fellowship…

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

What does it mean to be devoted to something?

You invest time.

You invest your person.

You invest your finances

You invest your life.

Why? Because it’s important…even when what you are devoted to doesn’t always give you the return you are looking for (insert parenting in this thought )

But you stay devoted.  You stay committed.  You stay engaged.

Why? Because it’s important.

Christians are devoted first and foremost to the Lord, but the Lord desires that we are devoted also to the gathering together of other Christians…the fellowship…the church.

It’s easy to see church as someone or something that needs to be devoted to me.  It’s easy to view church from the standpoint of “what’s in it for me?”  It’s even easy to buy into the thought, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” (CoVid tended to reinforce this thought.)

Perhaps…but none of these thoughts and mindsets are an expression of devotion to the fellowship.  In fact, they are a selfish, self-centered approach to being involved in a community of believers.

Sure, you GET something out of being around other Christians, but when you are devoted to the gathering of fellow Christians your focus changes.

You realize you are in a fellowship of believers to GIVE something to them.

You have encouragement others need to hear. (Hebrews 10:25)

You have gifts that others don’t. (1 Corinthians 12)

You have resources to support the work the fellowship does. (2 Corinthians 9)

You have a love for the success of the mission God has given his church. (Matthew 28:18-20)

You have a story others need to hear. (Acts 1:8)

And the list goes on.

When I’m devoted to something I do it when I’m tired.  I do it when I don’t feel like it.  I make it a priority in the middle of a busy schedule.  I sacrifice to ensure the success of the mission. I go even when I want to stay home.  I engage because I know others are counting on me. 

Perhaps for too long we have considered church and a fellowship of believers something to be a “member” of and an organization in which I get to enjoy “rights and privileges.”  What changes when all who attend a church see themselves as “partners” in the Gospel ministry and are devoted to the fellowship of believers who gather at that church?

Perhaps we just look at what happened when the group of believers in Acts 2 were devoted to each other…:

Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

God works blessing for you and his church when you are devoted to it!

 

Apply:  What changes with your involvement with a local church and fellowship of believers when you realize the importance and blessing of being devoted to it?  What is one habit you can begin or enhance that increases your devotion to a local church, a fellowship of believers?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for gathering your people together in the fellowship of the church.  Forgive me for being more of a consumer than a contributor.  Empower me by your Spirit to see the tremendous blessing to me, to others, and to your church when everyone, including me, is devoted to the fellowship of believers! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits!  (WATCH HERE)

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Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Holy Spirit had just worked faith in 3000 people, leading them to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and believe in his saving work for their eternal life.  These individuals recognized the sin of their rejection of Jesus and believed the promise of forgiveness in baptism and they and their children were baptized.

Now what?

What would this new group of believers do to stay connected to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and nurture the new faith that they had been given?

Acts 2:42 relates exactly what they did.  They made a strong commitment to the things that would nurture, strengthen and develop their faith – the Word of God, the Community of God, the Supper of God and prayer to God.

Do these things matter today?  What would happen in your life if you, by God’s power, rededicate yourself to these things as well?  Do you think anything would change?  I believe it would.

Remember the quote from yesterday:

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity. 

Do you, like these Pentecost believers, want to grow in your identity as a forgiven, loved, child of God whose hope in life and death is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?

Let me assume that you do.

Then we need habits that move us incrementally to the identity God has given to us.

First habit: Connect regularly to the Word of God.

The fact you are reading this devotion tells me this habit is important to you.  Perhaps this devotion is your daily infusion in the Word of God.  That’s great…maybe you have another habit for the Word of God…a daily verse…a reading plan…etc.

But why?  Why take the time and energy to ensure regular time with the Word of God.  Why be “devoted” to it?

Perhaps the same reason that the Apostle Paul told Timothy to stay in the word of God:

2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures keep us grounded in Jesus and the wisdom and truth that communicates grace and salvation to our hearts.  We don’t just need this once, we need it often!  The Scriptures are the very Words of God!  Want to hear God speak to you daily?  Open the Word of God and listen to his voice!  Want wisdom and guidance for life and the decisions you have to make?  God’s Word is useful for the practical realities of life as we use it to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness.  Want to feel adequate for living a God-honoring life?  The Scriptures are there to thoroughly equip you for every good work God has planned for you!

Regularly connect to the Word of God…and see what God does in your heart and life!

 

Apply: What might you do to start or strengthen your habit of being in God’s Word on a daily basis?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for preserving your word for my soul to benefit from today.  Guide me into all truth that I might live each moment to your glory! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits!  (WATCH HERE)

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“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity. This is one reason why meaningful change does not require radical change. Small habits can make a meaningful difference by providing evidence of a new identity. And if a change is meaningful, it is actually big. That’s the paradox of making small improvements.” ― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones 

Habits are powerful…even if I don’t think they are.  Habits move us in a direction.  The question is, in what direction are they moving us.  How do you react to the statement, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”  Does every action really matter?  Perhaps a singular one is inconsequential, but actions repeated are votes that sway your identity in a direction that your actions take you.

What might be an example of this?

Perhaps a one time action of not brushing your teeth has little consequence.  However, if you do it again…and again…and again and then wonder why you have cavities, root canals, and having teeth pulled, you realize you put a “vote” in for being a person with bad teeth, but not brushing your teeth in consecutive days, weeks, months.  

“Small habits can make a meaningful difference by providing evidence of a new identity.”

Spiritual habits are not big changes that happen over night.  They are little changes that happen over a lifetime.  I love this quote too because it leads us to ask, “What small habits can make a meaningful difference to provide growing evidence of my identity as a child of God?”

Yesterday, we had two baptisms.  These two little ones received the grace of God in their connection to the death of Jesus to bury their sins and the resurrection of Jesus to live a new life, because they have a new identity as a child of God.  Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

So what do those little ones need in their lives moving forward that will move them toward their new identity found in Jesus?  What do we need, who have been baptized, that will move us forward in our identity we find in Jesus?

Godly habits.

Habits that little by little grow us deeper into the identity we have been given as a child of God.

What are those habits?

There is not a list in Scripture that dictate the “habits of highly effective Christians.” However, there are verses that give us glimpses into what the early Christians did on a regular basis that moved them in the direction of their new identity.  We are going to focus this week on the ones mentioned in Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

These 3100 plus believers after Pentecost realized that the high of Peter’s sermon and the waters of baptism would need ongoing reinforcement.  So they were devoted to doin things that moved them deeper into the new identity they found in Jesus.

They were going to have a habit of connecting to the word of God (Apostles’ teaching).

They were going to have a habit of communing with the Lord and with people.

They were going to have a habit of communicating with God in prayer.

These are the habits that we are going to work at beginning or strengthening this week…Each small step will begin a habit that will, God-willing, move us deeper into the identity we have been given.

 

Apply: Simply list as many of your habits as you can.  Put them in two columns.  First column are those habits that move me closer to my identity in Christ.  Second column moves me away from Christ to identify in something else.

Prayer: Lord thank you for the new identity you secured for my by your resurrection from the dead.  Give me determination and discipline to move in the direction of that identity every day with the habits I develop. AMEN