This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits! (WATCH HERE)
“They devoted themselves to the…breaking of bread…”
Perhaps at face value, devotion to “breaking of bread” seems like something insignificant and perhaps puzzling. Why would the early believers be devoted to the breaking of bread? Were they interested in the first potlucks and eating together? Did they not want to miss a meal? Perhaps. In fact just a few verses later in Acts 2:46 it says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,…” This seems to be the potlucks and second Sunday lunches.
So what about in verse 42? What is meant by the breaking of bread? Perhaps this quote from a blog article is helpful:
The phrase “breaking bread” is a figure of speech called a synecdoche where a “part stands for the whole.” In other words, the phrase “breaking bread” includes both the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. It is simply a reference to the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), the “Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21), the “communion” (1 Corinthians 10:16), and “to break bread” (Acts 20:7). (https://www.thegospelofchrist.com/knowledge-base/tgoc-kb–skckd)
In the context of the devotion of the early believers to the Apostles’ teaching, the fellowship and prayer, it makes complete sense that there was a regular habit of celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
Should the same devotion exist today?
Absolutely!
Is it? Maybe?
Devotion to the Lord’s Supper wanes when we think, “Hmm, going to be a long service today…we have the Lord’s Supper.” We perhaps need to examine our hearts a bit deeper when we stay away from worship on a regular basis and thus the Lord’s Supper as well.
The early believers were devoted to celebrating the Lord’s Supper. But why?
They needed the forgiveness Jesus gave in his supper.
They wanted the presence of Jesus in their lives.
They were eager to proclaim boldly the death and resurrection of Jesus.
They desired to express a unity of belief and purpose as they communed with the Lord and each other.
The same is true today. Make it a habit to ensure you are in worship when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated (At Crosspoint it is the first and third Sunday of the month.) Why?
It’s what our souls need for the assurance of forgiveness.
It’s what our faith needs to commune personally with the real presence of our Savior Jesus.
It’s what our witness needs to boldly and clearly profess faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
It’s what our relationships need as we express a close and intimate unity with the others who commune (This practice of close communion, i.e. communing only with those of the same faith, is the way this close communion is expressed and preserved.).
The “Breaking of Bread,” the Lord’s Supper, is what devoted Christians do. It’s a regular part of our spiritual rhythms to ensure we commune regularly with the Lord at his table.
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
A habit that reinforces our devotion to communing with the Lord keeps our souls at peace and our hearts at one with our Savior and our community of believers.
Apply: What is your attitude toward the Lord’s Supper? What changes when you agree to be devoted to the breaking of bread?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for giving of yourself in your Holy Supper. Lead me to treasure it and be devoted to it so I receive the regular blessing from it! AMEN