“Return to Devotion”

Scripture Focus
 
Acts 2:37–38 (NASB 1995)
“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
 
 
Sermon Reflection
 
These verses aren’t just for the new convert; they are a mirror for every believer. The people in Acts 2 weren’t asking a theological question; they were responding to conviction. Their hearts were pierced, stirred to movement, not just emotion. They asked, “What shall we do?” That’s the same question we must keep asking even years after saying “yes” to Jesus.
 
Peter’s answer wasn’t just about a one-time act; it was about a lifestyle: Repent. Turn. Be changed. Be baptized, publicly marked by Christ. Receive the Spirit to live in power. So what happened? Why have some of us stopped living with this urgency? Maybe somewhere along the line, the fire faded. The repentance turned into a routine. The Holy Spirit’s voice got drowned out by the noise of life. The once-devoted life turned into a distracted one. This is a callback. A spiritual reset. A reminder that devotion to Jesus isn’t just for day one—it’s for every day.
 
 
How I Should Respond
 
Believer, how long has it been since your heart was pierced by the Word? Since the Spirit stirred your soul? Since you responded, not just with tears, but with change? Maybe you’re still showing up, but no longer sold out. You still pray, but you’ve stopped pursuing. You once lived like Christ was your everything, now it feels like He’s just one part of your busy life.
 
This is your invitation to return. Not just to church. Not just to routine. But to devotion. To repentance. To renewal. To that moment when you said “yes” and meant it with your whole heart. Let today be the day you remember who you are, and whose you are.
 
 
Weekly Prayer
 
“Lord, I remember the moment You saved me. The conviction, the joy, the passion. Forgive me for the distance I’ve allowed to grow between us. Pierce my heart again. Help me turn from anything that’s distracted me and return to a devoted life in You. Renew my hunger, restore my focus, and revive my spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
 
 
5-Day Application Plan
 
Day 1: Revisit Your First Love
Read Revelation 2:4–5. Reflect on where your devotion began to fade. Write a prayer of repentance.
 
Day 2: Rekindle Repentance
Read Psalm 51. Let David’s words guide your own confession. Ask God to renew a right spirit within you.
 
Day 3: Realign with the Spirit
Read John 14:26 and Galatians 5:25. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions and stir fresh obedience.
 
Day 4: Recommit to Public Witness
Reflect on what it means to be publicly marked by your faith. Ask yourself: Am I living boldly for Christ?
 
Day 5: Restore Your Devotion
Read Acts 2:42. Take one intentional step today—prayer, Bible study, fellowship, or generosity—that reflects a heart fully devoted to Jesus.
 
 
Final Thought
 
Devotion isn’t a memory, it’s a movement. It’s not just how you started, but how you’re walking today. Let the Word pierce you again. Let repentance refine you again. Let the Holy Spirit revive you again. Because the devoted life isn’t behind you, it’s still available if you’re willing to return.