Daily Devotional – May 22-28
May 22 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 2:42-47, They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 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.
Prayer: “Father, this description is the result of Your Spirit coming in glorious power upon the first believers. Please visit us again! Make us like that first community of followers in our devotion, in our awe of Your mighty works, in our unity, in our generosity, in meeting together in worship and groups, giving praise to You and influencing the community for Jesus. Make us a Spirit-filled compelling fellowship that You would be glad to add others to be saved. Amen.”
May 23 – Meditating on God’s Word
Acts 2:42, They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
In order to help us think and pray upon these words, we will use the pattern of the W.O.R.D. I will offer my example, but you will want to do this exercise for yourself.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words.)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the mutual support of the community of believers, to small groups who ate together, and to prayer.”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
They did these things immediately after they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Becoming a highly- devoted follower of Jesus is evidence that you belong to Christ and are filled with His Spirit.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
As a Spirit-filled believer, I will spiritually be dedicated to study God’s word, to the mutual fellowship of the Body of Christ, to join in doing group life together, and to heartfelt prayer.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Jesus, I put my absolute trust in you as Savior and Lord. I welcome the flooding empowerment of Your Spirit into my life. May my life show the evidence of Your presence through my time with you in the word and prayer and through my participation in the church and group life. Amen.”
May 24 – Meditating on God’s Word
Acts 2:43, Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
Write out the Scripture.
“The whole community was in awe of the many supernatural signs and wonders the apostles were performing.”
Observe what it is saying.
This supernatural demonstration was a manifestation of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit at work through the apostles. “Everyone” must include not only these first believers but those who were observing the happenings within the larger community. It was obvious that what was occurring was far greater than man could do.
Relate it to your life.
God is still at work doing only what He can do. He often does His work through believers. I need to stay open to what God wants to do in and through me and what He’s doing through others.
Do something.
“Come Holy Spirit, and do only what You can do through me for Your glory. Amen.”
May 25 – Meditating on God’s Word
Acts 2:44-45, All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Write out the Scripture.
“All the believers were together, freely shared their belongings with each other, and generously sold their properties and possessions so they could give to those in need.”
Observe what it is saying.
The believers were together in proximity and in heart. They had a spiritual unity as a family which motivated them to take care of each other, even going to sacrificial means to do so.
Relate it to your life.
The Holy Spirit-filled presence of Jesus will show Himself in how we relate to one another and how generous we are in sharing and giving what God has given us for the common good.
Do something.
“Jesus, in our highly individualized society, may we allow Your Spirit to compel us to be united as a family of believers who, with love and devotion, take care of one another. Amen.”
May 26 – Meditating on God’s Word
Acts 2:46, 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,
Write out the Scripture.
“They met every day in the temple courts. They ate together in their homes with much joy.”
Observe what it is saying.
The spirit of this passage is joyful because these believers were full of the joyful Holy Spirit. Spirit-filled living compelled them to meet in the temple courts to hear the apostles teach about Jesus and to meet in homes to enjoy fellowship with one another. They understood that being taught and being together was vital for their growth.
Relate it to your life.
If I don’t have the same joy as these first believers in my devotion to join the larger community in learning and meeting together in fellowship, then I need to review my heart or my calendar.
Do something.
“Jesus, keep filling me with Your Spirit so that my joy may overflow in my devotion to You and in my participation in the Body of Christ. Amen.”
May 27 – Meditating on God’s Word
Acts 2:47, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Write out the Scripture.
“…giving praise to God and enjoying everyone’s favor. The Lord kept adding more and more each day to those who were being saved.”
Observe what it is saying.
Their devotion and practices brought praise to God and favor in the community. Because of the rich spiritual dynamic of their Spirit-filled fellowship, the Lord kept increasing the number of believers.
Relate it to your life.
My Spirit-filled life will bring praise to God and open doors with others to come to faith in Jesus. The Lord is the one who grows the Church, but I am a conduit by which He does so.
Do something.
“Jesus, be praised in my life. May I be a winsome witness for the growth of the Church. Amen.”