The world vs. The Word: Devotion

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” –Mark 12:30

Devotion and the act of being devoted, is not something that is lost to the world.  It is readily observed but seldom seen.  When people drive half way across the country, just to see their favorite sports team play; that is devotion.  When crowds sleep outside ticket booths to purchase passage to see their favorite band.  That is devotion.  When a single mother works three jobs 7 days a week to feed and raise her kids; devotion.  Devotion is around us every day; whether virtuous or just downright silly.  Regardless, devotion runs deep in our society.  This is because devotion is a matter of the heart, and as long as we have love we will have devotion; and what the heart loves the life is devoted to.

The world we live in today champions and glorifies devotion.  It all hinges on what you are devoted to.  If you devote your life to something that will benefit the masses without condemning them, odds are good, you will receive some sort of recognition for it.  This is not always a bad thing, many great contributions have been made; many great inventions and ideas are a result of an individual’s devotion.  Those that are devoted to their craft or occupation typically receive compensation.  We would not have Internet, I-Pod’s, Automobiles, Microwaves, etc. without devotion.  Forbes magazine, the Times, even the US Government will exalt those who are devoted; but it all hinges on what you are devoted to.  It is easy to see why the world exalts those that directly benefit it, and it is not difficult to understand why they refrain from persecuting those that do not condemn it.  However, if the sum of all devotion is the glory of man; that devotion is vain.  The glory of man will never bring glory to God.  If the chief end of man’s devotion is the happiness of man; the world may glorify it but God will reject it.  The Bible calls us to devotion, but devotion to God.  The sanctified vessel’s sat in the holy temple with the sole purpose to glorify God.  They were devoted to His using.  This is the devotion that God accepts and the world rejects.  Francis Asbury left his mother and father at twenty two years of age on a ship bound for American.  He spent his life riding up and down the Eastern part of American preaching the gospel of Jesus.  He never saw his mom or dad again.  Susanna Wesley knew only a life of poverty married to a poor preacher who couldn’t pay his debts.  Nevertheless, she remained devoted to God and her husband, committing her life to motherhood.  Her commitment was not in vain and out of her teaching came the character of Charles and John Wesley.  Two men who would carry the gospel of holiness to the nations.  Francis Asbury’s face was never carved on the side of a mountain and Susanna Wesley’s portrait doesn’t hang in museums across the land, but I submit to you they had the devotion that mattered to he who matters most!  And they’re shouting in heaven today!  You can work, you can strive, you can be devoted to money, fame, yourself, education, whatever; but if you not devoted to God it will profit nothing.  “What shall a man profit if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

The heart is the commander center of devotion, and devotion is displayed in lifestyle.  What you love will show out in what you do.  When God is your chief devotion, he will guide and benefit all other virtuous relationships; furthermore, he will cut out those things that challenge Him.  God wants your heart, and he deserves your heart.  “We love Him because he first loved us.”  We ought to be devoted to Him, not because it will gain us heaven, or blessings, or anything else; but because He is worthy.  Let us follow after this devotion.