Devoted To The Word

In the early 1900s, cartoon animation was starting to gain popularity, and before there was Mickey Mouse there was Felix the Cat. Because films were silent back then, Felix had no voice. Instead, symbols would appear above his head to represent a thought or mood. Felix is credited with one symbol that has been used for the 100+ years since, and that’s the image of the light bulb over the head signifying that someone has gotten an idea or simply figured something out. For me personally, I love when someone really understands something for the first time and you see that light bulb come on. Where have I seen that the most? It’s in small group studies or home groups. 

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

When a group of people come together and are excited to get into God’s Word as a community, it is amazing what can happen. When I was a freshman in Bible College, I remember that we were having biblical conversations almost daily. We were all really starting to dig in on God’s Word for the first time and it caused us to gather together to tackle some of these books and verses and topics. There was a hunger there that really got us all digging in deep. We debated, we disagreed, and we also came together on a lot of things. It forced all of us to read the Bible like we never had before and it strengthened each of us. It was to the point where we didn’t want to go a day without reading whatever book we all had been talking about. We were devouring the Word like a filet mignon. 

You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12–14

In this passage, the Hebrew writer is sharing his disappointment in the lack of depth that the church here is showing. As infants, we need milk. Our bodies can’t handle food that is more difficult to digest, and as a result, we will need to ease the body into solid food. That only happens over time. Understanding the Word of God is the same. When we first come to Christ we don’t have the understanding and ability to really dig into the deeper parts of scripture, because we still have an elementary understanding of it. That is precisely why we need to be actively talking with others about scripture. The more we read scripture, discuss scripture, and wrestle with scripture, the deeper our understanding of it. It’s imperative that we surround ourselves with people who will walk alongside of us and help us as we learn more from the Word of God.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

One of the best ways to grow in community with others is to get into the word with a close-knit group of people who will hold each other accountable. The early Church understood this, and that’s why they were growing so rapidly. People are not made to be alone, and there’s an innate need and desire to be in community with others. A community that lets you stay where you are, however, isn’t a good community. We need people that hold us to a standard. We need people who aren’t afraid to challenge on the hard topics and be there to pick us up when we fall. When you are in a group of people that dig into God’s Word, hold each other accountable, and aren’t afraid to say the hard things, you have a gold mine at your disposal. I can promise you that you will grow in your faith.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8–11

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:6–9

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Col 3:12–17.

As we’ve already said, God didn’t design us to be alone. He made us for community. He made us to walk our lives side by side. When the Church is truly being the Church we will have fellowship together. When we dig into God’s Word together, we’ll create a bond strong enough to hold each other up.