They Devoted Themselves

Acts 2:42-47

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ amen.  The sermon text for the fourth Sunday of Easter is our first reading Acts 2.  To be devoted to someone is a very powerful thing.  In our own life, God is devoted to us.  First, He is the one who created us, and He is the One who sustains us.  He made us and gave each of us our own unique personality and He provides us with the things that we need to support our life.  Second, He is the one who has redeemed us.  He sent His Son into the world to save us from sin and death.  There is no doubt that God is devoted to each and every one of us.  We see that He is devoted to us very clearly through His Son Jesus Christ. 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday.  Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd.  He tells us that He is the one who takes care of the sheep.  The portrayals of Jesus in the time of the early church were often the Good Shepherd surrounded by His sheep, taking care of them, as shepherds do. One of the most popular images of Jesus to this day is still the image of the Good Shepherd.  It is a wonderful image because the shepherd is devoted to the sheep just as Christ is devoted to us.  Our Lord was so devoted to us that He willingly went to the cross to save us from sin, death, and hell.  Our Lord was so devoted to us that He willing died so that we could be forgiven.  Our Lord was so devoted to us that He willingly paid the price for our sins so that we could receive eternal life.  Through our Lord’s death and resurrection we see that He is very devoted to us.  It is clear that He is devoted to you. 

To be devoted to someone is a very powerful thing.  Jesus Christ is devoted to us and because of that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are devoted to Him.  As Christians we certainly want to be devoted to the Lord.  But how are we to do that?  Our reading from Acts gives us the answer.  The early Christians were grateful to God and so they devoted their lives to the Lord.  Recall what Luke tells us in Acts 2:42.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers”.  The early Christians were devoted to the Lord.  The early Christians expressed their devotion by willingly hearing God’s Word. The early Christians expressed their devotion by having fellowship with others within the congregation.  The early Christians expressed their devotion by having the desire to receive the Lord’s Supper.  The early Christians expressed their devotion by living a life of prayer.

To be devoted to someone is a very powerful thing.  The Lord is devoted to us and because of that we are devoted to Him.  Devotion is found in embracing the Word of God.  Remember what was said in our reading.  “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching.” The teaching of the apostles is referring to the Word of God.  The apostles were witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  It is the apostles that received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  It is the Holy Spirit that inspired the apostles to write down the Word of God. As followers of Jesus, we are indeed devoted to the Word of God.   Devotion to the Lord takes place when we hear, learn, and digest the Word of God. In the Divine Service, at Bible Study, and in our home, we are given many opportunities to immerse ourselves in the Holy Scriptures.  It is in God’s Word where Jesus comes to us in a very special way.  It is in the Holy Scriptures that we hear Jesus speaking to us. It is the Word of God that gives us peace and understanding.  Devotion is found in the hearing of the Word.

Devotion is also found in fellowship.  Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd.  That means our Lord came down from heaven so that He could walk among His people. Christ continues to be our Shepherd right now for He is the one who has gathered us so that we can have fellowship with God forever.  The Lord also gives us fellowship with each other.  It is God’s desire to have fellowship with us and it is His desire that we have fellowship with each other.  As Christians we want to devote ourselves to having fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  As Christians we have the desire to be a part of this congregation.  As disciples of Jesus, we have the desire to serve each other. As followers of Christ, we have the desire to care for each other, spend time with each other and to build each other up in the Lord.  Remember what was said in our text.  “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”  The Lord does indeed call us all to be active members in the congregation.  Devotion is found in hearing the Word.  Devotion is found in Christian fellowship. 

Devotion is also found in the Lord’s Supper.  Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.  That means our Lord came down from heaven to forgive our sins through His death and resurrection.  Christ continues to be the Lamb of God right now for He is the one who gives us His body and blood in Holy Communion.  Our response to Christ is expressed in devoting ourselves to the breaking of bread.  It is a reference to the Lord’s Supper.  How many times should you take communion? That is a question that comes up now and again.  The answer is that we should partake in the Lord’s Supper every time it is offered. Holy Communion is one of the means that the Lord uses to forgive our sins and to strengthen our faith.  As Christians we have the desire to receive the Lord’s Supper because it is a foretaste of the eternal feast that we will have in heaven.  I spoke about fellowship a few minutes ago.  We have fellowship with God and each other in Holy Communion.  We are in communion with God and with each other. Devotion is found in the hearing of the word.  Devotion is found in fellowship.  Devotion is found in the Lord’s Supper.

Devotion is also found in prayer.  Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God and He continues to speak to the Father in our behalf.  Our response to Christ is expressed in devoting ourselves to prayer.  As followers of Jesus we do have the desire to live a life of prayer.  We have the desire to take time in our day to talk to the Lord.  We have the desire to bring all things before the Lord.  We have the desire to thank God for our many blessings. We have the desire to pray for others. It is such a blessing to call upon the Name of the Lord knowing that He hears our prayers and answers them according to His good and gracious will. 

To be devoted to someone is a very powerful thing.  Of course, we know our devotion to the Lord does not win for us salvation.  Only God’s grace through Christ Jesus gives to us life and salvation.  We also know that we are not always as devoted to the Lord as we should be.  So, thanks be to God that He is still devoted to us.  The Lord shows that He is devoted to us in His Word.  It is the Word of God that proclaims the Good News that  He is gracious to us through His Son.  The Lord shows that He is devoted to us in fellowship. We do indeed have fellowship with God now and forever through Christ Jesus.  Our Lord shows that He is devoted to us in Holy Communion.  Jesus gives us His body and blood and forgives our sins. The Lord shows that He is devoted to us in prayer.  Jesus continues to intercede for each of us. 

To be devoted to someone is a very powerful thing.  The Lord is devoted to us and because of that we have the assurance of life and salvation. The Lord is devoted to us and because of that our Christian response is to be devoted to Him.    Our reading from Acts shows us what that looks like.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”  Amen.