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What Happened to Devotion to the Word?

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The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, actively living it out in genuine worship, prayer, fellowship, and benevolence toward others.  The result?  — They saw growth.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:42-47)

Devotion to God's Word
We have God’s Word, which contains the Apostles’ teaching. Does the church today maintain such devotion to Truth? Or, has it been replaced by pragmatism, determined by our experiences, and based on our feelings?

It’s hard to be devoted to truth that is seen as relative for it is constantly changing. Being steadfast in Truth, despite what is happening in society around us, isn’t always easy but it is essential to living out God’s purpose for the church and our individual lives.

What is required for such devotion to the Word?

  • We need to view the Word as our primary source of truth and equipping (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We can learn from a variety of sources but when we are devoted to the teaching of God’s Word, we will filter everything through Scripture.  We will use God’s Word as a grid.
  • We need to take seriously Jesus’ Great Commission that not only says to go and make disciples but also to teach “everything” He commanded (Matt. 28:19-20).  Being relevant in today’s world does not mean abandoning Truth.
  • We need to do our best to deal with hindrances to a wholehearted devotion to it, in our own lives and in the lives of those to whom we minister (2 Cor. 10:5).

For teachers, it might mean doing our best to minimize distractions to the teaching of God’s Word.

For church leadership, it might mean working through programming and scheduling issues to maximize the time we can devote to God’s Word.

In discipleship relationships, it might mean helping people learn to process life through God’s Word and not according to feelings or circumstances.

In counseling or mentoring situations, it might mean helping people deal with fears and anxieties that could supplant time and attention that should go to sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His Word.

What will it take for you to maintain devotion to God’s Word in your sphere of ministry?

For More About God’s Word & Help Studying It:  Bible Study Resources Page

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2 Replies to “What Happened to Devotion to the Word?”

  1. The Bible isn’t just a book of stories, it’s a book that tells us how to live. It makes us new persons that have love, compassion, the Holy Spirit, a new view of life and leads us to our salvation and a life the people of the world don’t understand. We as Christians are supposed to teach and tell the unsaved how they can receive their salvation with a new life. Through Jesus we can be disciples in this world to lead others to God. Leonard

    • You are right, Leonard. The Bible isn’t just a book of stories. It is about God seeking to bring people into a love relationship with Himself. Scripture is that which is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

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