Devoted
READ
There's something revolutionary about the picture Luke paints in Acts 2. Fresh from Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit still humming in their hearts, the earliest believers didn't scatter to pursue private spiritual experiences. They gathered. They devoted themselves—not just to God, but to one another.
Let’s take a moment to read Acts 2:42-47:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
REFLECT
The word "devoted" carries weight. It's not casual interest or occasional participation. It's the kind of commitment you make to something that shapes your entire life. And what were they devoted to? Four interlocking practices: the apostles' teaching, fellowship (koinonia), breaking of bread, and prayer. The earliest Christians learned together, ate together, worshiped together, and prayed together. Christianity was never meant to be practiced in isolation.
We live in an age of hyper-individualism. We can customize everything—our news feeds, our entertainment, even our coffee orders down to the exact number of pumps of vanilla syrup. It's no surprise that we've also customized our faith, creating spiritual experiences tailored to our preferences, practiced on our schedule, consumed in isolation.
But the New Testament knows nothing of this approach. Hebrews warns us not to give up meeting together, because we need one another. Not just for accountability or encouragement—though those matter—but because the Christian life itself is inherently communal. We can't become who God calls us to be without each other.
Think about those four practices again. When we learn the apostles' teaching together, we're protected from the distortions that come from interpreting Scripture alone. When we share fellowship, we practice the interdependence that mirrors the Trinity. When we break bread, we remember that Jesus gave His body for the world, not just for me. When we pray together, our individual concerns expand to include the needs of others.
The early church didn't see community as an add-on to faith—it was the very shape of faith. They shared possessions, ate in each other's homes, and met daily in the temple courts. Their devotion to God was inseparable from their devotion to one another. And the result? Glad and sincere hearts. The favor of all people. Daily additions to their number.
This is the invitation before us: to move from a private faith to a shared life. It won't be easy. It will require rearranging our schedules, opening our homes, and being honest about our struggles. It will mean showing up even when we don't feel like it, and staying engaged even when relationships get messy.
But this is the way of Jesus. He called twelve disciples into a common life. He sent them out two by two. He promised to be present where two or three gather in His name. The Christian life is not a solo journey—it's a pilgrimage we take together.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
Which of these four practices (teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer) feels most natural to you right now? Which one is most challenging, and what might that reveal about your relationship with community?
When you evaluate your current rhythm of life, is it primarily oriented toward individualism or community? What patterns would need to change to create more space for shared life?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Father, forgive us for treating faith as a private possession when You've called us into a shared life. Give us the courage to open our hearts and homes to one another. Teach us what it means to be truly devoted—to You and to each other. Help us build the kind of community that reflects Your love and draws others into Your Kingdom. Amen.