“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” ~ Acts 2:42 (NIV)

There’s been a question haunting me the past few months.

I can’t shake it.

It’s with me everywhere I go, challenging me, unsettling me, pushing me to answer it honestly.

The question is this: If someone followed me for a week, would it take them until Sunday to know I was a Christian? 

Would it take until Sunday – till I participated in church - to know I’d devoted my life to Jesus?  Would my participation in church be the first real example in my life that my life belongs to God? 

And if it takes until Sunday 

If the only difference between my life and theirs

If the first real giveaway of my commitment to Jesus is showing up at church (or tuning in online!), am I really following Jesus… or am I really just committed to a church? 

So, let me ask you – if someone followed you around for a week, would it take until Sunday?  What would they see from you, pointing to Christ in you?  What in your life would be a dead giveaway that, “…you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”? ~ Colossians 3:3 (ESV)

For the past few months, I was content to keep these questions to myself.  Questions like these can feel so judgmental and condemning.  Plus, there are times when God gives you a word that is just for you - for your conviction, edification, and growth.  And I was good seeing these questions in that way... At least, I was until I started reading through the Book of Acts this January. 

One of the repeating ideas contained in the book of Acts goes something like this: “And the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47, 4:4, 5:14)

There was no waiting for Sunday for the early church.  They went all in after God and in response, God didn’t just add to the number of people participating in their gatherings – He added to the number of people being saved.

The early church wasn’t just drawing a crowd; they were drawing people to Christ.  And when I read that and think about how different things look today, I can’t help but wonder if we’re missing something in the church today?

Which brings us back to the notion of the devotion expressed in Acts 2. 

The early church was devoted to practices that were consistent with and connected to the Person, people, and purposes of Jesus and these “indistractable” habits provided the Holy Spirit tangible traction in the world.  (Yes, I’m aware “indistractible” isn’t a ‘real’ word, but sometimes language needs a little help expressing the deeper needs of our human condition!) 

The word traction comes from Latin and means to “to draw or pull toward”.   When we have traction, we’re able to advance, move forward, and do what needs to be done.  Where traction means to pull or draw towards an intended goal, distraction means just the opposite.  Distraction means to pull or draw something away from a goal. 

What we learn from the early church is our devotion will either give God traction in our lives and through us, the lives of others, or become a distraction in us and through us, drawing us and others away from the desired goal of Christ.

Do you remember what Jesus said in John 12:32?  Anticipating what His life, death, and resurrection would accomplish, Jesus said, "when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”

If our devotion is consistent with and connected to Jesus, it will provide traction for the Holy Spirit to draw us and others to Christ.  But when our devotion is inconsistent and disconnected to Jesus, our commitment to these other things will function as distractions that pull us and others away from the only thing that truly matters.

When our devotions are centered in and consistent with Jesus, the world won't need until Sunday, but when they are disconnected and inconsistent with Christ, Sunday will never be enough.