Hosanna Restoration Church

For more than twenty years I have been writing these devotions and passing them around. I never gave a lot of thought as to why they were called devotions even though I have several books of daily devotionals, and more than one daily devotion bibles. When I first came to know the Lord someone gave me book of daily devotions and I have read one each day for all these years. I guess you could say I developed a habit.

Obviously the idea of devotions is to direct our focus each day to the object of those devotions, however if it is simply a habit with no sense of devotion, then it is like a job that we really don’t like; we just do it!

So today, let’s consider what we are devoted to. Let’s face it, we do many things in our lives as a part of life that we are not really devoted to. They are not our passion; they are just things we do. We may devote a certain amount of time to them out of necessity, but still not be devoted to them. For instance, I will watch the football play off games and the Super Bowl, but they are not my passion or my focus. I would survive if I did not watch them, and I will not lose any sleep over the outcome of the games. This was not always the case in my life, but it is now.

So, just because we devote time to things, does not mean we are devoted to them. We can even go to church without being devoted! You see, things we are truly devoted to are the things that are foundational to our lives. The more devoted we are the more passionate we are. Perhaps that is why scripture tells us to do every thing as though we are doing it unto the Lord. This of course will have a direct effect on what we do or do not do as well. Are your thoughts consumed with money, television shows, your possessions, your weight, what people think of you or say about you? These and a long list of other things can be what we are most devoted to. Or we can be devoted to God.

Psalm 103:19 states that God has established His throne in heaven and that His kingdom rules over all. Obviously then, it is beneficial to be devoted to God. Romans 4 points out that Abraham did not waver at the promise of God but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God. His devotion was not to the promise, nor was it to faith, but it was to God. If we allow our devotion to stray to the things of God rather than God Himself, we can be deceived and ship wrecked. Remember, that was what satan tempted Jesus with, but Jesus would not be distracted. His devotion was to God and what He said.

There are many things that will require our time and consideration, and God may not always be the first thought we have, but if we will determine in our hearts that He always has the final say, we will be rewarded. Oh to be totally devoted to Him.