Devoted to Fellowship

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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2: 42

Devotion—what comes to mind when you think of what devotion entails or is? The first thing I think about is a faithful dog. Many of you, I am sure, remember the TV show Lassie. In nearly every show, Lassie rescues Timmy from some dangerous situation. I even experienced a dog's rescue when I fell into the waters of Buckeye Lake as a small child. The family dog, Mutsie, came to my rescue despite her fear of water. 

Here is a story I wrote about a faithful, devoted dog named TJ.

Tom Caldwell lives in the backwoods in a cabin he built alone. He was stout and hardy, but his age was beginning to show. He was slowing down. He lived alone except for his constant companion, a yellow lab named TJ. The dog was Tom’s protector and best friend. TJ would follow Tom into the woods every morning. He would watch over Tom. TJ was always close by. Once, Tom fell into the raging torrent of a white-water river. TJ came to the rescue and pulled out Tom.

Last winter had been a particularly hard winter. Tom and TJ spent most of the time safely tucked away in his sturdy cabin. They only went out when they needed dry firewood or water. One day, on a particularly stormy day, Tom had a stroke and was unconscious on the floor. TJ sprang into action. He sensed that Tom could die without help. The nearest neighbor was miles away. The trip from the cabin was challenging, even on a good day. TJ went through his dog door and began his journey.

As TJ bounded through the woods, he only had one thought: bring help. After running for what seemed like an eternity, TJ bounded up the steps Billy Farmer’s home, barking and jumping up at the door. Soon, Billy Farmer opened the door and recognized it was TJ. TJ ran back into the woods, and when Billy did not follow, TJ ran back to the porch and pranced around, barked, and then once again TJ raced back into the woods. 

He gave up when he thinks Billy doesn’t understand and sets off to return to the cabin. There, he finds Tom has regained consciousness but cannot move. TJ lays his body up against Tom to keep him warm. Soon, a medical rescue team arrived and began to get Tom ready for the journey to the hospital. 

He never left Tom while Tom was in the hospital, staying alert and ensuring his friend was safe and cared for. Their bond grew more robust, and their mutual love and trust remained unwavering. After spending weeks in rehab, he regained his strength, and he was able to return to the cabin, all thanks to TJ’s devotion.

Tom often told his neighbors, "I would have never survived the stroke without TJ. He's more than just a dog; he's a guardian angel with fur."

TJ’s loyalty and devotion reminded everyone in the town of the pure and unwavering love that animals can have for their humans. It was a tale of survival, friendship, and the incredible bond between a man and his dog. 

In Acts 2:42, the early Christians devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These timeless acts of love and unity continue to inspire us today.

We are not meant to go through life alone. Building godly relationships is essential for a healthy life. Acts 2 emphasizes fellowship; the early Christians regularly gathered to break bread, study the Word, and spend time together.

Like many, I quickly skimmed over this scripture, thinking I had read it many times before. However, I was struck by the word "devoted." If we want to learn from the early church's way of living and fellowshipping, we must understand what it means to be devoted.

According to the Collins Dictionary, "devoted" means being dedicated, consecrated, very loving, loyal, and faithful.

Wow. 

True fellowship is not just a casual "hi" or a friendly wave in passing. Being devoted to fellowship involves a deep sense of dedication and loyalty.

Maintaining this kind of fellowship with others can be challenging. It requires effort, time, and grace. Consecrated fellowship doesn't just happen; it's an investment, and it's an investment that the early church valued. I love how the KJV writes it: "they continued steadfastly". Yes, fellowship with other believers may have its ups and downs, but we are urged to remain steadfast in our dedication to fellowship.

Devoted fellowship often looks like small group fellowship. It's hard to live up to the expectation of remaining dedicated, consecrated, very loving, loyal, and faithful to a hundred people – that's next to impossible. Jesus devoted himself in this way to 12 people, His disciples.

The attraction towards loud, fun, large gatherings can be a strong pull, which has its place. But in reality, devoted fellowship is cultivated in small groups. This is where you can get to know someone. You can share, pray for one another, and help others grow in faith. We can gain wisdom from those around us.

Take some time to pray and reflect. Is there anything that is holding you back from devoting yourself to fellowship? What are these things?