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1. A group of well-known educators was honoring Charles W. Eliot, famous president of Harvard University, one night. "Permit me to congratulate you on the miracle you have performed at the university," said one educator. "Since you became president, Harvard has become a storehouse of knowledge." "That is true," laughed Eliot. "But I scarcely deserve the credit for that. It is simply that the freshmen bring in so much and the seniors take away so little."
2. A young man came to Socrates one day and said, in substance: "Mr. Socrates, I have come 1,500 miles to gain wisdom and learning. I want learning, so I come to you." Socrates said, "Come, follow me." He led the way down to the seashore. They waded out into the water until they were up to their waists, and then Socrates seized his companion and forced his head under the water. In spite of his struggles, Socrates held him under. Finally, when most of his resistance was gone Socrates laid him out on the shore and returned to the market place. When the visitor had regained his strength, he returned to Socrates to learn the reason for his behavior. Socrates said to him, "When you were under the water, what was the one thing you wanted more than anything else?" "I wanted air." Then Socrates said, "When you want knowledge and understanding as badly as you wanted air, you won’t have to ask anyone to give it to you."
3. Knowledge and the ability to learn surround us, yet there is so much that we take for granted.
1. Eliot reminds us of the hunger and thirst of young students and the complacency of the "educated".
2. We have a sense of the seniors being "so educationally minded that they are no earthly good."
3. Socrates reminds us that many of us think we want knowledge and wisdom, but how much to we really desire/need it.
4. The song, Breathe
1. "This is the air I breathe, your holy presence, living in me, and I’m desperate for you…I’m lost without you.
2. Do we live with this longing for the truth of knowing God?

Text:

1. Acts 2:42 – "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…"
1. Devotion is the "persistent paying attention to" the object of our focus
2. The first thing that the disciples did was to focus on the apostles’ teaching
1. The apostles were focused on the commandment that Jesus gave
2. "Make disciples"
3. The primary teaching plan centers around maturing in love
2. Psalm 119:97ff – "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long…"
1. To complete our lives of devotion we must have passion
2. Historically, disciples sought a teacher of renown
3. In Jesus, the role of the disciple was dependent on the calling of Jesus
1. The calling of the first disciples – received
2. The seeking of the rich young ruler – walked away
4. The love of God’s law is evident in our passion for His word.
1. We need to know God and we learn about Him in His revelation
2. We need to know God and we meet Him in His Son
3. We need to know God and we mature in Him in His Body
5. How do we know when we have devotion and passion?
1. When His word is the air we breathe, the bread we eat
2. When we are consumed with an abiding desire/hunger for Him
3. When we understand what His word requires
4. When we obey His word even when it defies social convention
5. When we trust God’s intention in, and for, our lives
6. When we set our focus on His light

1. To be a disciple of Jesus we must make a commitment to mature in love
2. Like the young man with Socrates who wanted for nothing but fresh air, we must desire the knowledge of God’s word more than anything
3. Devotion and passion are part of the call to being a Christian
1. Devotion is that single-minded commitment
2. Passion is the driving force that compels us to breathe the breath of God

Are we seeking to be disciples of Jesus Christ? Together let us mature in love for God and His people.

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