A Devotional on "Devotion"

What does devotion mean?

Dictionary.com says:

Profound dedication; consecration. Earnest attachment to a cause, person I would summarize it this way: Devotion is “Commitment with passion; or passionate commitment.” You can have commitment without passion. I have known of couples, who are committed to each other for many years, but it is clear that they are not devoted to each other. There is no passion. You can have passion with out commitment. Some people find it easy to be passionate, but have no commitment. The passion fades and the relationship fails. I want us to look at a passage of scripture that models and teaches what devotion is. It’s in 2 Sam. 23.13-17 23:13 At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim. 23:14 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 23:15 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!” 23:16 So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 23:17 and said, “O Lord, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. David’s mighty men of valor were devoted to David. How do we know? They were attuned to David desires. They listened for his heart They wanted nothing more than to give him what he desired. They did not stop to make sure they understood what he meant before doing what he wanted. They left immediately. They risked their lives to give him what he wanted. Their devotion was rewarded. So what do we learn about our devotion to our God from these warriors’ devotion to David? Listen to God’s heart. When you are devoted to someone you don’t ignore what they say, feel, need, or desire. You are quick to see if you can do what it is that they want. And although it’s not always safe to give another person what they want, it’s always safe to give God what He wants Want nothing less than to give Him what He desires. I do not have a formula for changing your motives. I know I have always struggled with mixed motives when it comes to giving God what He wants. I want to, but I don’t want to. I know of two things that will help. 1. Ask for it! Pray for God to increase your desire to love and serve Him. 2. Don’t stop asking! Be like Jacob in Gen. 32 and don’t let go until God gives you what you ask for! Don’t stop to make sure you understood when you clearly understood. More often than not, when we stop to make sure we understand what God wants, we are just looking for an excuse to disobey or to postpone obedience. It is possible to be legitimately confused and in those cases we may need to wait for further instruction/clarification. But very often, like David’s warriors, we know what God wants. Notice that none of the mighty men of valor said, “Oh, maybe he was speaking allegorically. And what he meant was that he just longed for the good old days…” Just do it. Risk your life. What difference does it make if you are comfortable, healthy, or safe? When you are devoted to God, (or to anyone!) you don’t care about the cost! My wife may need me to take out the trash, change the laundry, or wash her car, all inconveniences. But if I’m devoted, so what? God rewards your devotion. Mutual human devotion is its own reward. My devotion to my wife is rewarded with her devotion to me and the pleasure we receive from serving each other. But devotion to God is rewarded in ways we might not expect. David poured out the water. We might be tempted to think that was disrespectful. But for him, it was a way of honoring their devotion, by making an offering to God. There is no higher honor than being involved in worship to the Great King! Listen to God’s heart, seek to give Him what he wants, when it is clear, don’t wait for further clarification, risk it all and God will honor your devotion. (Just taking a break from Holistic Health...it'll be back)