03/08/2024
Once again we are exploring the topic of devotion, but today we are asking ourselves what it means to be devout. For this purpose we will use a verse from Acts 12, the story of Saul becoming Paul, and the devotion of Ananias. The Jews who surrounded Ananias praised the devotion he showed to God by his obedience to the law, but do those who know us today look at our lives and call us devout? Ananias was given a good report because he obeyed the law, will we be called devout Christians because of the way we obey God’s commandments, follow Jesus, and love one another?
“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,”
Acts 22:12 KJV
Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote this: "Devotion is part of the very spirit of true worship and the nature and spirit of prayer." He then goes on to say that "Devotion belongs to the person whose thoughts and feelings are devoted to God." So, when we pray are we doing so out of devotion? When God commands us to love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds, are we able to do we do that? When we are told to love our neighbors as ourselves are we being obedient? And, when we are told to love our enemies are we able to do that too? Doing these things and the others that Jesus, and God’s Word, have ask us to do, demonstrates our devotion… Are we devout, or just part time believers who do these things when it pleases us to do so?
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
In the bible there were people who worshipped Baal or the stars, and they were devoted to these practices, but true devotion can only be found when the object of that devotion is Yahweh, the one true God. I know people today who worship many things and devote their lives and efforts to those false gods. Examples would be the pursuit of wealth, the advancement of self, or other such ungodly pursuits. These things, in proper perspective, are not necessarily bad, but to dedicate ourselves to them, and make them the objects of devotion is. God must be first and foremost in our lives; the center and focus of our true devotion. Jesus taught on this subject...
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:31-33 KJV
God knows our needs and He provides for us, but we often have wants that far exceed our needs. When this happens we can be tempted to make the acquisition of those things objects of worship and devotion. Perhaps you have been acquainted with people who have a great deal of wealth. Their financial position is such that even if they tried, they would have a very hard time spending the interest on their money each day... And yet they zealously pursue more. They have their accountant give some small amount to charity and some to church, and they send their children to the best schools, but money isn't a substitute for serving, caring, and devotion. God doesn't want our things, or our money, no, He wants our selves. He wants our devotion and worship. He wants us to care about our families and those around us as much, if not more, than ourselves. After all, our things and our money are already His... He gave them to us. If you don't believe this then simply look at the Egyptian Pharaohs who tried to take their wealth, things and positions, with them when they died.
Jesus spoke about caring in a wonderful parable; it closes this way...
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Matthew 25:40-46 KJV
So if we devote our lives to God and follow the teachings of Jesus, we will become servants, and in that humble role we will please God... Because that is exactly the part His son played in our redemption from sin… He served as our perfect redeeming sacrifice.
Devotion should reveal itself in our worship and our prayers. If we devote ourselves to God then we will serve; we will serve our family, our community, and our nation, but most of all we will serve God and all His children. We will serve in prayer, and in deed. We will humbly show mercy, and give ourselves to each other. In our devotion we will become righteous and find eternal life.
God doesn't want a small portion of our attention; he wants us to pray without ceasing, to love our wives as Christ loves the church, and sometimes to sell everything we own and follow Jesus. In short, He wants us to devote our entire lives to worshiping Him. He wants our undivided attention and devotion. Are we doing that? Are we willing to pray that God show the same mercy to the strangers who surround us, and our enemies who confront us, that we ask Him to show our own children?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching us to focus all of our attention on you, and to dedicate all our efforts in devout obedience to you. Thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who, by obeying your will, humbled Himself in devout obedience to you for us; even unto suffering and death. We lift up our prayers to you Father, and ask you for strength in honoring all that you have commanded of us, and have whispered in our ears. Help us each day as we strive to obey, and worship you, even as Jesus did. Help us to remain fixed on your Word, and the life and teaching of Christ; help us as we strive to be devoted to you in all things as He was, and is, and always will be. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who is with us now and always, and is deserving of all honor and glory forever as we worship you in devotion to your will. Hear our prayers Abba as we root them in our deep and abiding love, obedience, and belief in you. This is the day that you have made, and we will rejoice in you as we walk with Jesus through it. Abide in us Father just as you abide in Jesus and He abides in you. Let all those around us see our relationship with you and say there is a devout person…. There is someone who is a child after God’s own heart, and devout in their ways.
Amen
Rich Forbes