Read: Acts 2:42| Listen: Acts 2

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

Luke, the author of Acts, chooses his words carefully. As he describes the early church’s commitment to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, he uses a word our Bible translates as “devoted.” It means to be “obstinately persistent.” In other words, their dedication to the practices of Jesus is unyielding. Nothing can interrupt their learning more about Jesus and becoming like him. Nothing will stop their new life together. The only thing that explains this level of commitment is that they fully believe in Jesus’s resurrection. Wholly devoted, they reorient their lives around growing in the knowledge and character of their Lord and Savior.

Are we convinced like the early church was? The way they spent their time reveals what they were most devoted to. They gathered daily in the temple courts. The content they consumed was the apostles’ teaching. The people they shared their lives with were others who encouraged them in their faith. If we use the same grid, we must consider how the places, content, and people of our lives speak to where our devotion is. Without diligence, our devotion will be captured by whatever grabs our attention. It could be travel, sports, or the big game. It could be climbing the ladder at work or the content we view on our phones. We must be persistent in the daily reordering of our lives.

TODAY: An excellent way to diagnose your devotion is to reflect on how you spend your time. Look back over the past week and journal about whether your schedule reflects the disciple you want to be. Then, ask God to help you stay devoted to his way.