Unstoppable! 'Salvation Should Be Happening' — Acts 2:46-47

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

[The believers] worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
— Acts 2:46-47 NLT

Key Thought

As the early believers devoted themselves to four areas of spiritual importance - the apostles' teaching, fellowship (including helping others in need, Acts 2:44-45), breaking of bread, and prayer - people who did not believe were led to Jesus, and the Lord added them to the number of disciples. In some places in the world now, the number of disciples is increasing, and we nearly always find these four areas of devotion as key components of this growth. In some places, the number of disciples is decreasing, and these four areas of emphasis need to be intensified in those fellowships. In other places, disciples are being persecuted, and these four areas of emphasis help sustain faith. When we do our part (the four emphases), then people are touched. God does his part, and people are saved. The Lord adds them to those who are his family. Salvation happens because God's people devote themselves to the right things, and God is faithful to bring the harvest of seeking hearts. But, are we genuinely devoted to these right things? Or, are we going to pay only lip service to living the truth of the Good News: studying God's word, having genuine fellowship, sharing sacred meals together, and earnestly and thankfully praying?

Today's Prayer

O Father, we want Paul's prayer for the disciples in Colossae to be true of us:
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Please make this prayer true of us, O Lord. Amen.

This prayer is taken from Colossians 1:3-6.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 2:46-47 NLT — [The believers] worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

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About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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