March's Thought: To What Are You Devoted?

It is a sad truth in our lives that we sometimes become more devoted to other things than God and His glory. Devotion is all around us in the world. Some of it is good and some of it is not. Good examples of devotion can be found in the love of a mother for her children and a father for his family. Bad examples can be found in extreme devotion to cars, houses, appearance, money, movie stars, sports teams and possessions. It is in our nature to become obsessed with things. Now, there is nothing wrong with being devoted to something -- unless that devotion becomes an obsession.

If it does, it pushes out proper behavior and proper admiration of God. This then becomes sinful. There should be nothing that holds more devotion in our lives than the Lord. Everything else must follow far behind. When you look at your own heart and look at what is most important to you, what you devote the most time to -- what will you find? To what are you most devoted? Though there are things that require greater amounts of time than worship and adoration of God (i.e. work, sleep), what is the most critical? What is the most important? We must evaluate what is most important to us and once again look to the cross of Christ where his love and patience abound.

The Scripture says, "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13. Another scripture states: "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" Romans 3:3. Lastly, another scripture states: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9.

The priority of our devotion should always be God first. Notice the last verse above where it states that God desires we have fellowship with Jesus Christ. This fellowship is the Greek word "koinonia." It means "intimacy and communion." God wants this intimacy and this communion with us. He wants our devotion to Him because it is only in this intimacy with the Lord Jesus that we can truly know what proper devotion really is and thereby experience the wonderful joy of the Lord's grace in a great way.

We need to look to the cross where we see the wonderful demonstration of God's loving devotion to us. It is there that we see a perfect devotion, a perfect devotion combined with perfect love -- that brings glory to God.

Are you seeking God? Are you devotion yourself to Him? It is high time to seek the Lord and be devoted and dedicated to Him.

Pastor Eddie Hodges, Jr.