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Devoted - Acts 6
Devoted - Acts 6
In reading Acts 6, it says that the apostles wanted to "devote themselves unto prayer and the ministry of the word" (vs. 4). When Acts began, they were said to be devoting themselves unto prayer (1:14). This word in the original meant to attend constantly unto something or someone. The apostles didn’t just pray, nor did they pray sometimes, they were going to attend constantly unto prayer and the ministry of the word. To take the time to administer the money collected for the needy saints would simply have distracted them from the aim and purpose. They were devoted.
Christians are to be ‘devoted unto good works (Titus 1:14; 3:14). Timothy was to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching (1Tim. 4:13). Above all, which would include the above concepts, we are to have a sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3), to have an undivided devotion to the Lord (1 Cor. 7:35). We are to ‘attend constantly unto the Lord’, to be devoted unto Jesus.
Paul warned about those who would instead devote themselves to ‘myths and endless genealogies” and also those who would devote themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
In truth or in error, such ‘devotion’ shows itself as being consumed with an idea, activity, or person. We often see this when people ‘fall in love’. Their constant thought and attention is on this special person. Their thoughts drift to this even when they should be involved in other activities. They are prone to forget even things such as eating or sleeping to give their thoughts to their ‘love’. Such is the picture of devotion.
Does this describe our mindset towards Christ?
Hugh DeLong
