Our lives are significantly marked by firsts. Our first steps, first words, and first day of school. Driving a car for the first time. Our first date with our spouse. The first time we held our first baby in our arms. Their first steps, first words, and first day of school. And the list goes on.
Firsts aren’t only important to us, though. They’re important to God, too. That’s why He asks us for the first part of every day, the first part of every week, and the first tenth of our income. God knows when we handle our firsts well, the rest of what we have, live, and enjoy is much more blessed.
The Book of Acts focuses on a very important first, too: the first church. How the early believers handled that first has made a worldwide, generations-long impact. Luke wrote this record to help us understand how to honor Christ and achieve similar influence.
It’s important to note that building the first church was a tough, dangerous task. These early believers had fears to work through, immaturities to grow through, and persecution to advance past. But because they did, Scripture says the Church grew from 3,000 to around 20,000!
The first church started something special through the power of the Holy Spirit. It couldn’t be stopped then—and it hasn’t been stopped since.
I encourage you to read the Book of Acts to discover the full God-given vision, passion, and action of these early Christians. Today, we’re going to focus on what fueled it all—their consecration to Christ.
In John 17:16-21, we find Jesus praying to the Father for His followers to embrace the consecration necessary to advance the gospel. He prayed: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
In this prayer, we find three characteristics of consecrated believers. First, they’re in the world, not of it. (v. 16) While they love unbelievers, they don’t identify with their way of life. Second, they live sanctified (or set apart) to God’s truth, honoring His ways. (v. 17) Lastly, they’re passionate about sharing the gospel with others. (v. 21)
Here’s how this consecration increases the Church’s impact: It produces God’s anointing upon us to advance the gospel exponentially as we overcome every difficulty. I sincerely believe we’re living through one of the Church’s most crucial hours. So let’s commit to remembering our first, and return to what made it remarkable!
