A True Upper Room Devotional

Everyday thousands of people get up, have a cup of coffee or tea, and do what is called a daily devotional. They set aside a certain amount of time to have a quiet time before the Lord. I am not sure when this tradition started, but I would think that it has it’s roots all the way back to the 1st century church in the book of Acts and the upper room.

Today I had my own upper room devotional

This morning as I was spending some time seeking the Lord, I started meditating on what actually happened in that upper room, and how it may have been a whole lot different than what we do today in our devotional times. I thought I would share some of my thoughts on this subject with you.

Years ago, I remember reading an article put out by Keith Green in his Last Days Newsletter.  It was titled Devotion vs. Devotions. I actually found a video of him teaching on this subject. If you have time, it would be worth your while to watch it, but it is over an hour long.

So what was the devotion that the disciples displayed in the upper room?

Acts 1:12-14
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
“12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

• They were all in one accord. The disciples all had unity of purpose and in this passage it was the purpose of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They knew that they could not do the job, without the power of the Holy Spirit being an ever present reality in their lives. So we can see that true devotion to God is knowing and understanding that they could do nothing apart from this power. How many times do we have our quiet times with the Lord, but don’t even think to ask to have His power visibly manifested in our lives and the lives of those we touch? It is not enough to just be “good Christians” we need to be empowered Christians It is time for our own personal upper room devotional.
• They spent the time in prayer. Prayer is our most intimate form of communication with God. It is not just to be one way communication giving Him our list of needs for the day, but it is supposed to be us communicating our heart to God and God communicating back? How many times do you forget to listen back? Ask God what is His priorities in your life and in the lives of those around you? 

So I ask the same question that Keith Green asked. Are you devoted to God? Are you in love with Him the same way you are in love with your spouse or significant other? How is your love life with your Savior? If we are to truly have an upper room devotional, it must start with our devotion. I am of the firm belief that if we get back on track with putting devotion first over the activity of devotions, then we will have the same result as the disciples had with their upper room devotional. At the end of that meeting, over 3000 people came to know Jesus.